Submitted by Shekhar Goel (163)

Describe impact of 3 D printing on various aspects of Operations Management

What is 3D printing?

3D printing or Additive manufacturing is a process of making three dimensional solid objects from a digital model. 3D printing is achieved using additive processes, where an object is created by laying down successive layers of material Before printing a 3-D object, you must first produce a three-dimensional image of the item you want to print by using a computer-assisted design ("CAD") software application. 3D printing turns computer models into real physical things. It takes different materials, from biodegradable plastic filament PLA to ABS plastic to Nylon, melts it into thin layers onto a surface, moves up and prints another layer. After layer upon layer, you are left with a physical object. Today, 3D printing is used across several industries, from the aviation, automotive and construction sectors, to medical, jewellery and, increasingly, retail manufacturing.

Impact of 3D printing on various aspects of Operations Management

Impact on design operations

Better Designs Whether you are designing tennis shoes or space shuttles, you can't just design whatever you feel like, a good designer always take into account whether or not his design can be manufactured cost effectively. Additive manufacturing open up your designs to a whole new level. Because undercuts, complex geometry and thin walled parts are difficult to manufacture using traditional methods, but are sometimes a piece of cake with 3D printing! In addition, the mathematics behind 3D printing are simpler than subtractive methods. For instance, the blades on a centrifugal supercharger would require very difficult path planning using a 5-axis CNC machine. The same geometry using additive manufacturing techniques is very simple to calculate, since each layer is analyzed separately and 2D information is always simpler than 3D. This mathematical difference, while hard to explain is the fundamental reason why 3D printing is superior to other manufacturing techniques. It almost always better to keep things simple and additive manufacturing is simple by its very nature! Rapid prototyping

Single items can be produced inexpensively without incurring the mold and tooling costs of traditional manufacturing Rapid innovation New innovations can be created and revised quickly since 3D printing is an iterative process

Impact on Planning and control operations

Manufacturing

3D printing is the ultimate just-in-time method of manufacturing. No longer do you need a warehouse full of inventory waiting for customers! Just have a 3D printer waiting to print your next order. 3D printing is increasingly being used by large companies such as Converse or Alessi to replace some of their traditional manufacturing methods with cost savings of up to 70%. This is achieved through lower shipping and packaging costs related to overseas parts suppliers, less human resource involved and cheaper and sometimes more reliable raw materials. Products have superior capabilities The barriers for manufacturing will be lowered, bringing new competi-tors with new ideas. At the same time, products incor-porating 3D-printed components will exhibit superior features such as being smaller, lighter, stronger, less mechanically complex and easier to maintain. These products will hold distinct competitive advantage Time-to-market for products shrinks (planning) This will be due, in part, to faster design and prototyping cycles as a result of 3D printing, but also to the elimination of tool-ing and factory setup times for new products. Being agile will no longer be a competitive advantage but a basic necessity to stay in business.

Operations and the value chain

Supply chain management

Local Manufacturing More things will be made closer to their final destination. This will have definite impact on the logistics industry, and will change the way business try and schedule their operations. Customizability It will be easier, faster, and more efficient for companies to provide made-to-order products to their end users.

Distribution of raw materials There will need to be a dramatic shift in the way raw materials are distributed since these printers will require raw materials in order to produce the final product. New replacement parts model Business will be able to provide replacement parts as required instead of trying to predict the need and manufacture the stock well in advance (as they do today) Blurred boundaries within businesses A closer integration of the various departments of an organization will be mandatory. A soloed manufacturing department will no longer allow for a competitive business.
The mass customisation of products would mean that inventory levels fall, as goods are made to order. This would have the effect of reducing warehousing requirement .

Zero or close to zero waste The very nature of 3D printing, creating a part layer by layer, instead of subtractive methods of manufacturing lend themselves to lower costs in raw material. Instead of starting with a big chunk of plastic and carving away (milling or turning) the surface in order to produce your product. Additive manufacturing only "prints" what you want, where you want it. The extra plastic that is printed for the supports can easily be recycled to create new filament for more 3D printing.