Additive Manufacturing is a method of manufacturing that makes use of digital files to create parts, objects or whole systems. It allows firms to produce complex machinery or other devices at relatively low cost. In addition, the process reduces production expenses and time to market. This is because it doesn't require casting, forging, nor any other traditional method.
Additive manufacturing has many benefits beyond the benefit to manufacturers, suppliers, communities, and individuals. Customers who can afford innovative products also reap the benefits of additive manufacturing. Numerous Fortune 500 companies are using 3D printing technology. Biden Administration announced a new initiative to support small- and medium-sized manufacturing firms in adopting additive manufacture.
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 five large U.S. manufacturing companies: 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. Other major enterprises are expected to join the initiative 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.
Another important player is the America Makes national accelerator. 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.
Other government programs can also be used to promote the adoption additive manufacturing. The Department of Labor has other programs that can be used to assist small-scale manufacturers, such as technical support or financing.
Many of these programs are designed to help overcome common market failures. For example, there are a number of barriers for small manufacturers that make it difficult for them to acquire affordable financing and access to industry-standard technologies. 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 a specialist in automated surface finishing.
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 is it like to manage a logistics company?
To be a successful businessman in logistics, you will need many skills and knowledge. You must have good communication skills to interact effectively with your clients and suppliers. You will need to know how to interpret data and draw conclusions. You must be able manage stress and pressure under pressure. In order to innovate and create new ways to improve efficiency, creativity is essential. Strong leadership qualities are essential to motivate your team and help them achieve their organizational goals.
You must be organized to meet tight deadlines.
What are the 7 R's of logistics?
The acronym 7Rs of Logistics refers to the seven core principles of logistics management. It was developed and published by the International Association of Business Logisticians in 2004 as part of the "Seven Principles of Logistics Management".
The following letters make up the acronym:
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Responsible - to ensure that all actions are within the legal requirements and are not detrimental to others.
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Reliable: Have faith in your ability or the ability to honor any promises made.
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Reasonable - make sure you use your resources well and don't waste them.
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Realistic - Consider all aspects of operations, including environmental impact and cost effectiveness.
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Respectful – Treat others fairly and equitably.
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Resourceful - look for opportunities to save money and increase productivity.
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Recognizable - provide customers with value-added services.
Why is logistics so important in manufacturing?
Logistics are an integral part any business. Logistics can help you achieve amazing results by helping to manage product flow from raw materials to finished products.
Logistics plays a significant role in reducing cost and increasing efficiency.
Statistics
- In 2021, an estimated 12.1 million Americans work in the manufacturing sector.6 (investopedia.com)
- According to a Statista study, U.S. businesses spent $1.63 trillion on logistics in 2019, moving goods from origin to end user through various supply chain network segments. (netsuite.com)
- 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)
- In the United States, for example, manufacturing makes up 15% of the economic output. (twi-global.com)
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How To
How to Use Just-In-Time Production
Just-intime (JIT), a method used to lower costs and improve efficiency in business processes, is called just-in-time. It's a way to ensure that you get the right resources at just the right time. This means you only pay what you use. Frederick Taylor developed the concept while working as foreman in early 1900s. He observed how workers were paid overtime if there were delays in their work. He decided that workers would be more productive if they had enough time to complete their work before they started to work.
The idea behind JIT is that you should plan ahead and have everything ready so you don't waste money. Look at your entire project, from start to end. Make sure you have enough resources in place to deal with any unexpected problems. If you expect problems to arise, you will be able to provide the necessary equipment and personnel to address them. This will ensure that you don't spend more money on things that aren't necessary.
There are many 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 : You can stock the materials you need in advance. This allows for you to anticipate how much you can sell.
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Project-driven: This means that you have enough money to pay for your project. If you know the amount you require, you can buy the materials you need.
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Resource-based JIT: This is the most popular form of JIT. Here you can allocate certain resources based purely on demand. You might assign more people to help with orders if there are many. You'll have fewer orders if you have fewer.
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Cost-based: This is a similar approach to resource-based but you are not only concerned with how many people you have, but also how much each one costs.
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Price-based: This is a variant of cost-based. However, instead of focusing on the individual workers' costs, this looks at the total price of the company.
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Material-based - This is a variant of cost-based. But instead of looking at the total company cost, you focus on how much raw material you spend per year.
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Time-based JIT is another form of resource-based JIT. Instead of focusing on how much each employee costs, you focus on how long it takes to complete the project.
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Quality-based JIT - This is another form of resource-based JIT. Instead of focusing on the cost of each worker or how long it takes, think about how high quality your product is.
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Value-based JIT: One of the most recent forms of JIT. This is where you don't care about how the products perform or whether they meet customers' expectations. Instead, you are focused on adding value to the marketplace.
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Stock-based is an inventory-based system that measures the number of items produced at any given moment. This method is useful when you want to increase production while decreasing inventory.
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Just-intime planning (JIT), is a combination JIT/sales chain management. It is the process of scheduling components' delivery as soon as they have been ordered. This is important as it reduces lead time and increases throughput.