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Transforming the Supply Chain with 3D Printing

Stratasys Direct
Stratasys Direct January 08, 2018
January 08, 2018
3d printing and foundries 2

Transforming the Supply Chain with 3D Printing

Due to a shift in corporate understand of 3D printing’s business value, more and more industries have embraced the technology. From a recently expanded understanding of the benefits of additive manufacturing (AM), industry 4.0 smart, connected manufacturing has emerged. AM is understood as a powerful technology capable of being used throughout the value chain and as a compliment to traditional manufacturing.

Operations and logistics see significant improvement from AM adoption in subtle, yet powerful ways.

Reduced Inventory & On-Demand Manufacturing

Transitioning to on-demand manufacturing leads to cost savings by eliminating or significantly reducing inventory requirements. The benefits of digital files also provide the ability to quickly produce new iterations quickly at little to no additional cost.

Supplier Consolidation

With a single source for a variety of parts, businesses that use 3D printing contract manufacturers deal with less risk, more control and added agility in relation to their product life cycle. Experienced service bureaus offer reliable service with the technical knowledge to suggest which manufacturing methods work best for your applications. With fewer suppliers to work with, and many of them offering local production with lower labor units, there’s no need to follow cheap labor rates overseas.

Here at Stratasys Direct Manufacturing we have manufacturing processes backed by decades of experience and stringent quality controls. We offer expertise across specific applications, technologies and industries with in-house finishing services and post-processing technologies.

Distributed Manufacturing

Local facilities can 3D print designs on-demand from files sent across the globe, or they can print securely from a nearby supplier that provides needed capabilities. The ease of a local build opens the potential for significant transportation and logistics cost reductions.

Increased Responsiveness

Businesses that embrace 3D printing leverage expeditious product development and manufacturing. These businesses can iterate faster with AM’s tool-less manufacturing and reduced production times. In some cases, parts can be made within hours or days instead of weeks, significantly reducing manufacturing downtime. Additive manufacturing service bureaus address issues with a faster responsiveness, allowing for your team to react effectively and rapidly.

Ultimately, the future of manufacturing includes integrating additive manufacturing into the traditional supply chain to move into the future. By utilizing it as a complementary technology in multiple areas across the supply chain, you achieve the full impact of what it could do for your business.

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