3D printing is fast becoming one of the most advanced manufacturing technologies. It is useful for prototyping and provides significant advantages for small to medium-scale production runs. But how will 3D printing revolutionize manufacturing and supply chain processes — and how will it do so? 

Predictions About Additive Manufacturing

1. 3D printing will become bigger, faster, and cost-effective

3D printing technology is advancing at a rapid pace. The increasing need for specialized materials to meet end part requirements will continue to increase the number and variety of options available to 3D printers in the UK. The key to the next generation of 3D printers, particularly industrial-grade solutions, is the ability to work with a wider variety of high-tech materials. This will open up new opportunities for businesses to take advantage of additive manufacturing in ways they would not have been able to before. 

While machine costs continue to be high, increasing print speed is driving down the cost of parts. As more businesses embrace 3D printing these advancements will continue to accelerate. 3D printing is becoming more versatile with processes like dual extrusion. This is driving 3D printing adoption in a wider variety of industries. Printing without support structures is another trend that is likely to significantly increase the number of applications that additive manufacturing can provide. The potential for savings in cost and time is very high. 

2. Additive manufacturing will be an integral part of the integrated supply chain model

To get the most out of this model, manufacturers will need many different printers and materials, as well as connections to other industry experts. Interoperability between different systems is becoming increasingly important to unlock 3D printing’s full potential. Automation in manufacturing and after-processing, as well as integrated usability, will be significant trends in 2022 and beyond.

Additive manufacturing can offer a completely new supply chain model in a holistic, secure platform, where all the steps are integrated into a single process, from idea to material, to digital inventory, manufacturing, and delivery. As manufacturers move towards Industry 5-0, services providing fully automated, but secure, platforms will be critical.

3. Working together is imperative

Partnerships create mutual advantages and synergies that result in a better product for customers. These large industrial 3D printer has been proven to be a key factor in scaling industrial production in 3D printing. However, to move forward, more comprehensive collaboration is needed. Standards need to be developed, and printer and post-processing systems need to be able to interoperate. Shared production data can result in better printers and materials for everyone. Similarly, close collaborations are critical to achieve the best solution. The next step to build a better service is an ecosystem that brings together service providers, material manufacturers, and print farms around the world.

4. Provide Quality and Cybersecurity Assurance

3D printing continues to revolutionize many industries today. Companies are adopting 3D printing for more of their requirements, resulting in a more integrated manufacturing environment. For industrial production, however, businesses need to be confident that 3D-printed parts will meet the required quality requirements. Data ownership will also be critical. Intellectual property must remain in the proper hands. 

Data management will be essential as manufacturing moves into the digital age. Quality assurance requires carefully selecting production partners, checking their capabilities, and ensuring repeatable fit-for-purpose parts. Design data must also be securely encrypted to enforce manufacturing parameters so that only the required amount and material can be produced. By collecting and analyzing manufacturing data, errors can be identified quickly, streamlining the process and meeting all quality requirements.

5. 3D printing will increase supply chain resiliency. 

In the past, 3D printing was used to address a range of supply chain issues. As additive manufacturing continues to develop, its role in addressing these issues will only grow. Since 3D printing manufacturing can be located closer to the point of consumption, manufacturing organizations using this technology will be able to build shorter, more robust, and more robust supply chains.

Physical inventory is a weak point in a supply chain. With on-demand printing capability, inventory is digital. Engineers or manufacturers can send a design file directly to the nearest 3D printer, whether it’s the manufacturer delivering the component to the manufacturer or the consumer delivering the final product to the manufacturer. Afterward, there’s less need for inventory to be stored and incrementally moved. Parts can be printed, shipped, and stored at the shortest possible distance, reducing CO2 emissions.