COIT20249: In-Depth Analysis and Review of 3D Printing Trends

This report provides a comprehensive review of 3D printing technology, analyzing its applications in food fabrication and its economic implications. It examines two key articles: one focusing on 3D printing in food fabrication, highlighting its potential for personalized nutrition and improved food supply chain management, and another discussing the economic benefits of 3D printing for organizations, emphasizing increased profitability and competitive advantage. The report recommends the adoption of 3D printing technology while addressing security and operational challenges, citing its potential for efficient, high-quality products and reduced resource wastage. It concludes that 3D printing offers both economic and organizational sustainability.

Running head: REVIEW: 3D PRINTING
REVIEW: 3D PRINTING
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1REVIEW: 3D PRINTING
1st Reference:
Sun, J., Zhou, W., Huang, D., Fuh, J. Y., & Hong, G. S. (2015). An overview of 3D printing
technologies for food fabrication. Food and bioprocess technology, 8(8), 1605-1615.
URL: https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/5af4/0273f1cccb6722438df03f57c1f456cf4233.pdf
Sun et al., (2015) has attempted providing an overview of the 3D printing in food
fabrication process. The authors of the reviewed article have claimed that the consumable
goods (foods) can be fabricated and designed according to the individual need. The paper has
pursued the objective of identifying and summarising all the steps that are involved in food
fabrication with the assistance of 3D printing. They have even attempted at predicting the
future direction in which the 3D printing can take food fabrication. The authors have stated
that the deemed technology will offer a personalised nutritional experience to the consumers
because the food can be fabricated as per the nutritional demand of the individual consumers.
According to the authors, the discussed technology will also assist in food supply chain
management. The reviewed article is an interesting, knowledgeable and very well-structured.
However, lack of factual argument can be considered as the only obvious drawback of the
article.
RECOMMENDATION:
Food industry is one of the most profitable industry, and introduction of 3D printing
has enhanced the profitability. Hence, it is recommended that the discussed technology
should be adopt it at large scale while taking appropriate care of the security and operational
challenges that the system may offer.
2nd Reference:
Weller, C., Kleer, R., & Piller, F. T. (2015). Economic implications of 3D printing: Market
structure models in light of additive manufacturing revisited. International Journal of
Production Economics, 164, 43-56.
URL:
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Frank_Piller/publication/276898572_Economic_Implica
tions_of_3D_Printing_Market_Structure_Models_Revisited/links/
562a41f608aef25a243ff3f6/Economic-Implications-of-3D-Printing-Market-Structure-
Models-Revisited.pdf

2REVIEW: 3D PRINTING
Weller, Kleer & Piller, (2015), in the discussed article, has attempted at citing the
economic implication of the 3D printing. The authors have called the discussed technology as
“the spark of a new industrial revolution”. The authors have assessed the implication at firm
and industry level individually to enhance the understanding of the implication cited by the
discussed technology. In the research process, they identified “a set of seven propositions”
which they claim has paved the way for future scholarly work on the subject. The core
argument offered by the reviewed article is that an organisation earns an increased profit on
adoption of the technology. While, from a market’s perspective, the organisation gains
competitive advantage because at a particular instance the organisation can serve multiple
markets. Hence, it can be stated that the paper has stayed true to the objective and served
what it aimed at achieving. Additionally, no drawback of the paper has been identified.
RECOMMENDATION:
The reviewed article has declared that 3D printing offers economic sustainability to an
organisation and hence, should be adopted. The same is recommended because the
technology can offer an efficient product with excellent quality and a reduced resource
wastage which in the process will offer organisational sustainability.

3REVIEW: 3D PRINTING
Bibliography:
Sun, J., Zhou, W., Huang, D., Fuh, J. Y., & Hong, G. S. (2015). An overview of 3D printing
technologies for food fabrication. Food and bioprocess technology, 8(8), 1605-1615.
Weller, C., Kleer, R., & Piller, F. T. (2015). Economic implications of 3D printing: Market
structure models in light of additive manufacturing revisited. International Journal of
Production Economics, 164, 43-56.