Page 31 - MMI-March-April-2022

When com-
panies ap-
ply design
for additive
Source: Jabil Inc. manu-
facturing

principles
Additive Manufacturing has improved the product lifecycle (DfAM)
to part con-
solidation
less time and labor on the prod- Creativity adoption in recent years. As we and sys-
uct itself, contributing to extra Additive manufacturing’s excit- look to the convergence of digital tem-level
savings in manufacturing costs. ing potential cannot be realized technologies (including scanning, design, the
Additive manufacturing also en- without a robust catalog of ad- integrated information systems, result-
ables manufacturers to explore ditive materials to choose from. and additive manufacturing), it is ing BOM
multiple iterations and design At Jabil’s Materials Innovation obvious that manufacturers are consoli-
dation and
options in the product develop- Center in Chaska, Minnesota, looking to these digital solutions reduction of
ment and manufacturing pro- engineers, chemists, materials to gain efficiencies and speed in part num-
cess through rapid prototyping. scientists, and production ex- the development and production bers enable
As healthcare, automotive, and perts consult with customers in of products. companies
aerospace OEMs contend with the development of custom, fea- This evolution has implications to realize
accelerating innovations in their ture-rich powders and filaments for today’s business leaders. exponential
industries, 3D printing applica- for improved performance, dura- “There’s so much activity going savings
tions in manufacturing have be- bility, flame-retardancy, conduc- on, so much money and creativ- and, in
come key to keeping pace with tivity, and lubrication. ity now being applied,” Rich- many cas-
more proactive and agile product Our survey reports growth in all ard D'Aveni writes in The Har- es, a more
lifecycle management strategies. types of additive manufacturing vard Business Review, probing, reliable
product.
Similarly, the ability to change a materials, with the most popu- “What’s the risk if you wait?”
product mix on short notice is a lar being plastics, polymers, and Indeed, as new capabilities in-
considerable benefit. Every build composites, followed closely by crease both the pace and power
on a 3D printer can be different, metals. Metal 3D printing isn’t of 3D printing manufacturing,
therefore parts can be made to as common as plastics and poly- I am certain that successful
order. Manufacturers are able mers, but many companies use companies will be the ones that
to react more quickly to chang- both. That’s true today, and as we choose to match this speed, rath-
ing market conditions, and they look ahead, survey respondents er than implementing the solu-
can modify production rates to said they want to use all types of tion by degrees.
match demand. materials in the future. More and more companies are
Bottom line – additive manufac- finding out how additive man-
turing can potentially reduce The additive process ufacturing is a viable and effec-
time-to-market for a new or evolution tive tool for design, prototyping,
refreshed product from months The future of 3D printing is dy- and production. It’s becoming
to days. namic, and we’re seeing growing an essential tool in the manufac-

March-April 2022 | 31
www.mmindia.co.in