The Questions Executives Should Ask About 3-D Printing

Most hearing aids in the U.S. are now custom-made on 3-D printers. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved the first 3-D printed pills. Carmakers have started using 3-D technology to produce parts. And last year saw the first demonstration of a digital printer that can produce multilayered circuit boards.

Three-dimensional printing is poised to redefine global manufacturing and distribution. It may do to physical goods what cloud computing is now doing to digital services.

Inherently, digital printing’s “additive” manufacturing process promises to be less costly than more conventional “subtractive” manufacturing techniques — think about printing something layer by layer instead of milling a block of material into a final product. Digital printing also offers opportunities for improvements in innovation, customization, speed and location.

The technology is expected to lead to reductions in the cost of employment, capital investment, shipping and inventory as well. For example, printing products on demand would significantly reduce the $1.7 trillion in inventories held by U.S. manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers, according to a leading technology industry analyst.

Of course, 3-D printing hasn’t transformed the economy quite yet. But it’s not too early to start asking questions and planning for possible scenarios.

Channing Flynn