Additive manufacturing refers to a process that creates whole systems using digital files. It allows firms produce complex machinery or devices at a low cost. In addition, the process reduces production expenses and time to market. This is possible because the process does not require casting or forging or any other traditional methods of production.
These benefits extend to communities and beyond suppliers and manufacturers. They also benefit consumers who can purchase products that are innovative. Numerous Fortune 500 companies are using 3D printing technology. A new initiative from the Biden Administration has been designed to aid small and medium-sized manufacturing companies in adopting additive manufacturing.
AM Forward is a public-private initiative that aims to encourage the use of additive manufacturing by developing standards and common practices, establishing an open-market for additive-manufactured parts, and addressing supply chain issues. It is led by five large U.S. manufacturers: General Electric Aviation, Honeywell, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and Siemens Energy. These firms are partnering with the DOE Manufacturing Demonstration Facility at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, which is a national facility that provides access to a range of additive-manufacturing technologies.
OEMs will use the AM Forward agreement to find technical solutions to industry problems, collaborate with other firms and create standard specifications, as well as offer technical support to U.S.-based suppliers. The initiative is expected to be extended to other large companies in the coming years.
One of the major players involved in AM Forward is the NEO Additive Manufacturing Cluster of Ohio, which works to accelerate the adoption of additive-manufacturing technologies. With a strong base of talented engineers and scientists, the state of Ohio is an ideal location for additive manufacturing firms.
America Makes is another important player. This program partners with academia, industry, economic development resources, and workforce training programs to encourage the adoption of additive-manufacturing by a wide range of sectors. Many university programs now exist for additive-manufacturing.
There are other government programs available to support the adoption of additive manufacturing, such as the Manufacturing Extension Partnership. Programs offered by the Department of Labor to support small manufacturers include technical support, financing, and even financial assistance.
Many of these programs are designed to help overcome common market failures. Small manufacturers may face many obstacles that prevent them from obtaining affordable financing or access to the latest industry-standard technology. Similarly, some customers may not be willing to commit to purchasing from companies that invest in additive-manufacturing technologies.
Some of the most innovative additive-manufacturing firms in the country are located in Ohio. Desktop Metal is an industrial additive-manufacturing company that offers metal 3-D printing and machining services to manufacturers and designers. Jonco Industries, Inc. offers several fabrication services, which include rapid prototyping, prototyping design, and high-volume finishing. PostPro3D is an automated surface finishing company.
Besides collaborating with the Federal Government, other industry organizations are working to increase the adoption of additive-manufacturing. The Fraunhofer Institute is a leading institution for the development of additive-manufacturing technology.
FAQ
What are the responsibilities of a logistic manager?
A logistics manager makes sure that all goods are delivered on-time and in good condition. This is done through his/her expertise and knowledge about the company's product range. He/she must also ensure sufficient stock to meet the demand.
What does it mean to warehouse?
A warehouse is an area where goods are stored before being sold. It can be an indoor space or an outdoor area. In some cases, it may be a combination of both.
What skills does a production planner need?
You must be flexible and organized to become a productive production planner. Communication skills are essential to ensure that you can communicate effectively with clients, colleagues, and customers.
Statistics
- You can multiply the result by 100 to get the total percent of monthly overhead. (investopedia.com)
- Job #1 is delivering the ordered product according to specifications: color, size, brand, and quantity. (netsuite.com)
- (2:04) MTO is a production technique wherein products are customized according to customer specifications, and production only starts after an order is received. (oracle.com)
- It's estimated that 10.8% of the U.S. GDP in 2020 was contributed to manufacturing. (investopedia.com)
- [54][55] These are the top 50 countries by the total value of manufacturing output in US dollars for its noted year according to World Bank.[56] (en.wikipedia.org)
External Links
How To
How to Use Just-In-Time Production
Just-in time (JIT), is a process that reduces costs and increases efficiency in business operations. It's the process of obtaining the right amount and timing of resources when you need them. This means that only what you use is charged to your account. Frederick Taylor was the first to coin this term. He developed it while working as a foreman during the early 1900s. He observed how workers were paid overtime if there were delays in their work. He concluded that if workers were given enough time before they start work, productivity would increase.
JIT is a way to plan ahead and make sure you don't waste any money. You should also look at the entire project from start to finish and make sure that you have sufficient resources available to deal with any problems that arise during the course of your project. If you anticipate that there might be problems, you'll have enough people and equipment to fix them. This will prevent you from spending extra money on unnecessary things.
There are different types of JIT methods:
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Demand-driven JIT: You order the parts and materials you need for your project every other day. This will allow to track how much material has been used up. This will allow to you estimate the time it will take for more to be produced.
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Inventory-based: This type allows you to stock the materials needed for your projects ahead of time. This allows you to predict how much you can expect to sell.
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Project-driven : This is a method where you make sure that enough money is set aside to pay the project's cost. You will be able to purchase the right amount of materials if you know what you need.
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Resource-based JIT: This type of JIT is most commonly used. This is where you assign resources based upon demand. For instance, if you have a lot of orders coming in, you'll assign more people to handle them. If you don't have many orders, you'll assign fewer people to handle the workload.
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Cost-based : This is similar in concept to resource-based. But here, you aren't concerned about how many people your company has but how much each individual costs.
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Price-based: This is similar to cost-based but instead of looking at individual workers' salaries, you look at the total company price.
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Material-based: This approach is similar to cost-based. However, instead of looking at the total cost for the company, you look at how much you spend on average on raw materials.
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Time-based JIT is another form of resource-based JIT. Instead of focusing on the cost of each employee, you will focus on the time it takes to complete a project.
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Quality-based JIT: This is another variation of resource based JIT. Instead of thinking about how much each employee costs or how long it takes to manufacture something, you think about how good the quality of your product is.
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Value-based JIT : This is the newest type of JIT. This is where you don't care about how the products perform or whether they meet customers' expectations. Instead, you're focused on how much value you add to the market.
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Stock-based: This inventory-based approach focuses on how many items are being produced at any one time. It's used when you want to maximize production while minimizing inventory.
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Just-in-time planning (JIT): This is a combination JIT and supply-chain management. It is the process that schedules the delivery of components within a short time of their order. It reduces lead times and improves throughput.