Additive manufacturing is a disruptive technology; incorporating 3D printing into an existing business is no easy task and requires the buy-in and support of the C-suite. In addition to the equipment and facility requirements summarized in the previous section, the effective use of AM also means that companies will have to reconsider the designs of their products, how they think about production, perhaps even the kinds of materials that they use. If a company is willing to embrace these changes, the payoffs can include simplified assemblies that require fewer fasteners and less labor; better performing products; less stock held in inventory; and much more. Greg Morris, then with GE Additive, spoke about the opportunities and changes that GE as an organization has seen with 3D printing in the below video.
Companies looking to implement or grow the use of additive manufacturing for production need to do so intentionally, with support from management, engineers and sales—not to mention customers.
