3D Printing and its Impact on Businesses

This assignment delves into the profound influence of 3D printing technology on modern organizations. It examines how 3D printing can significantly reduce costs and streamline operations by eliminating traditional manufacturing complexities. The report analyzes various scenarios where 3D printing proves advantageous and discusses its potential to render some conventional manufacturing methods obsolete. Furthermore, it explores the economic implications of 3D printing on market structures and production economics.

Case Study

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
1 3D printing more appropriately called additive manufacturing..........................................1
2 3D printing better suited for high or low volumes of production........................................2
3 situations in which 3D printing is most valuable................................................................3
4 The leading research and investment firms forecast for 3D printing..................................3
5 3D printing make some types of traditional manufacturing obsolete and its affects..........4
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................4
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

INTRODUCTION
3D printing or additive manufacturing is the process of manufacturing or creating three
dimensional objects in which layers of materials are formed under computer control to create an
object (Bowyer, 2014). In accordance with this context, this report will assist in explaining that
why 3D printing more appropriately called additive manufacturing. Further, the uses of 3D
printing will be identify in order to acquired knowledge about 3D printing. The circumstances in
which 3D printing can be most valuable will be discover in this assignment. Rationale will be
provided that justifies that why leading research and investment firms forecast for 3D printing in
this report. Moreover, methods through which 3D printing make multiple types of traditional
manufacturing obsolete will be identifies in this report.
1 3D printing more appropriately called additive manufacturing
3D printing or additive manufacturing is a process of making three dimensional solid
objects from a digital file. The development of 3D printing objects is achieved through additive
processes, thus 3D printing more suitably known as additive manufacturing (Chua and Leong,
2014). In an additive process an object is created by laying down successive layers of material
until the object is created. The process of additive manufacturing was researched by Campbell,
Williams, Ivanova and Garrett in their research report on “Could 3D printing Change the
World”. They explained that additive manufacturing develops products layer by layer, additively
instead of subtracting material from a larger piece of computer file. Additive manufacturing is
the most advance process of creating and developing projects effectively and efficiently. In
today's world, technologies advancing rapidly and efficiently.
The 3D printer helps to print the two dimensional objects into three dimensional. These
three dimensional model helps in demonstrating the complex products in effective and efficient
ways. Thus, it implies that three dimensional printer is an additive manufacturing process which
convert two dimensional objects into three dimensional (Klein and et.al., 2015). 3D printing
enables you to produce complex (functional) shapes using less material than traditional
manufacturing methods. Additive Manufacturing File (AMF) read and coded by the computer
programs, that guide the printer to build the particular object effectively. There are other files
also been used by computer programs in order to convert the two dimensional objects into three
dimensional objects effectively and efficiently. Thus, that is why 3D printing more appropriately
called additive manufacturing
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2 3D printing better suited for high or low volumes of production
The rising growth in technologies and increase in competitions impacts on the usage of
3D printing effectively. Many organisations in order to reduce the extra cost, uses 3D printing
and prints 3D objects at high volumes. Some small scale organisations uses the objects of 3D
printing at low volumes (Kietzmann, Pitt and Berthon, 2015). In both the scenarios, 3D printing
is suitable and effective. Thus, it implies that 3D printing is suited for both high or low volume
of productions. For example in making aircraft components low volume production of 3D
objects can be found in the aerospace industry. Many engineers and scientist utilises the objects
formed from 3D printer, which helps in understanding the nature and characteristics of the
objects effectively and efficiently. Mechanical engineers who requires some specific part or
material, can design the product on computer aided design and can create the object with the
help of 3D printing technologies (Conner and et.al., 2014). Thus, it implies that in both high or
low level of production, three dimensional printing is appropriate and suitable. There are many
organisations which uses the objects created by the three dimensional printers in order to reduce
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Illustration 1: Incredible Objects That Prove 3D Printers Are Totally Worth it
(Source: Horn, 2013)

their extra cost effectively. Some organisation relied on the 3D objects in order to demonstrate
their products and comprehend them efficiently. With the help of techniques and methodologies,
organisation uses the 3D objects in order to increase their performance and increase their
profitability simultaneously. Thus, it implies that 3D printer is very useful in both high and low
level of productions.
3 situations in which 3D printing is most valuable
In situations where organisation requires demonstrating specific but complex component
of their products, 3D printing is most valuable in that situations. For example, auto mobile
organisations engineers, who needs to understand the process of fuel combustion or any typical
engine process, they can design and print engine on three dimensional printer in order to
comprehend the process of engine effectively (Günther and et.al., 2014). Further, there are many
other situations where 3D printing can be very productive such as producing small scale products
by small scale organisations, etc. If companies look to the commercialization of 3D printed
organs it is impossible to estimate this market size. In the near term organisations should see
veins become commercially available. Contrary to the expectations of many, it may however
take 30 years or more to commercialize, develop, test & certify 3D printed organs. Moreover, 3D
objects are used by engineers and scientist in order to comprehend the nature and characteristics
of objects in order to move forward in their research. There are multiple use of objects made
through 3D printing which are very resourceful to the organisations. They can used these
products for demonstration, comprehension or explanation the type and characteristics of their
products to customers and other investors in effective and efficient manner. From adults to kids
everyone can use the objects of 3D printer in order to fulfil their desires. Thus, it implies that
objects developed by 3D printer can be used in every circumstances. Organisations utilises these
objects to reduce their extra costs and scientist uses the 3D printer in order to conduct their
research effectively.
4 The leading research and investment firms forecast for 3D printing
3D printing encompasses a wide range of additive manufacturing technologies. These
technologies help in developing the two dimensional objects into three dimensional effectively
and efficiently. Many manufacturers and industries such as automotive, dental, aerospace, high
tech and medical products are all utilising the technique of 3D printing (Wohlers, 2014). Thus, it
implies that 3D printer has many advantages which attracts the investors to invest in 3D printing
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effectively and efficiently. The leading researchers and investment firms visualise bright future
of 3D printers and additive manufacturing technologies and they assumed that these technologies
will help in comprehending the complex task and products effectively. Significant improvement
in the direct additive manufacture of metal component have been made in the past five years.
Now, engineers can utilise them very effectively in order to conduct their research projects.
There are several advantages which are associated with additive manufacturing such as
digital design and manufacturing, eliminating the complexity, instant production on global scale,
etc. which increases the value of 3D printers and additive manufacturing. These advantages of
additive manufacturing and 3D printing provides a benchmark for their future success (Weller,
Kleer and Piller, 2015). The researchers and investors had analysed the uses of 3D printing
technologies and came to conclusion that 3D printing is very effective and efficient in order to
reduce the extra cost and manual efforts.
5 3D printing make some types of traditional manufacturing obsolete and its affects
Technology is moving very quickly but is still in its infancy considering that it has
existed for over 20 years. However, it appears that there a few key applications that continue to
fund development. Albeit, 3D printer prints identical objects effectively, but it will not last more
than the hundred passes as it is build of plastic polymers. Rise in technologies leads to growth
and development of organisations and industries effectively. 3D printer helps in eliminating
complexity in manufacturing the products. Many engineers now using concept and models build
by the 3D printer in order to conduct their research projects. Traditional manufacturing such as
designing and developing prototypes for some products are replaced by the models and objects
manufactured by 3D printers (Campbell and et.al., 2011). Thus, it implies that 3D printing make
some types of traditional manufacturing obsolete. It affects both the consumers and organisations
in different ways. The products developed by 3D printers does not last long enough as they are
made of plastic. It benefits the organisation in reducing the complexities of products. From this it
can be stated that 3D technologies can replace the traditional manufacturing in effective and
efficient ways.
CONCLUSION
3D printing is the process of converting two dimensional objects into three dimensional
with the help of computer aided design (CAD) and 3D printers. It is also known as additive
manufacturing that aid in reducing the manual efforts and reduce the cost of organisations. In this
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context, this report concludes that 3D printing is very essential in order to reduce the cost and
complexities organisations faces. In the above report, situations and circumstances were
discussed in which 3D printer will be suitable. Moreover, the rationale through which 3D
printing can make some of traditional manufacturing obsolete is provided in this report.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Bowyer, A., 2014. 3D printing and humanity's first imperfect replicator. 3D printing and additive
manufacturing. 1(1). pp.4-5.
Chua, C. K. and Leong, K. F., 2014. 3D PRINTING AND ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING:
Principles and Applications (with Companion Media Pack) of Rapid Prototyping. World
Scientific Publishing Co Inc.
Klein, J. and et.al., 2015. Additive manufacturing of optically transparent glass. 3D Printing and
Additive Manufacturing. 2(3). pp.92-105
Kietzmann, J., Pitt, L. and Berthon, P., 2015. Disruptions, decisions, and destinations: Enter the
age of 3-D printing and additive manufacturing. Business Horizons. 58(2). pp.209-215..
Conner, B.P. and et.al., 2014. Making sense of 3-D printing: Creating a map of additive
manufacturing products and services. Additive Manufacturing. 1. pp.64-76.
Günther, D. and et.al., 2014. Continuous 3D-printing for additive manufacturing. Rapid
Prototyping Journal. 20(4). pp.320-327.
Wohlers, T., 2014. Tracking global growth in industrial-scale additive manufacturing. 3D
Printing and Additive Manufacturing. 1(1). pp.2-3.
Weller, C., Kleer, R. and Piller, F.T., 2015. Economic implications of 3D printing: Market
structure models in light of additive manufacturing revisited. International Journal of
Production Economics. 164. pp.43-56.
Campbell, T. and et.al., 2011. Could 3D printing change the world. Technologies, Potential, and
Implications of Additive Manufacturing, Atlantic Council, Washington, DC.
Online
Horn. L, 2013. Incredible Objects That Prove 3D Printers Are Totally Worth it. [Online].
Available through:<https://gizmodo.com/5995280/9-incredible-objects-that-prove-3d-
printers-are-totally-worth-it> [Accessed on 18th October 2017].
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