How will 3D printing change the world?

As a Pragmatic Futurist, we’re fascinated by the potential of 3D printing technology  to transform businesses. Like computers and the Internet, 3D printing will undoubtedly affect business and life around the world and across industries. This technology has potential to become the most important, most strategic, and most used manufacturing process ever.

The 3D printing and rapid prototyping industry is a wonderful advancement in engineering that opens up exciting opportunities for many industries  especially domestic manufacturing. It has potential to create efficiencies and opportunities for producers both large and small, from industrial fabricators to DIY makers. There will not be an industry that’s not impacted by this technology—if not in the production of final parts, then in prototyping and testing of new designs.

Are you aware of how the 3D printing technology could restructure your industries? Have you ever considered how the 3D printing technology may effect your business in the near future and what you and your business can do different?

Below are examples of how 3D printing technology are being used

Space Exploration - NASA is conducting tests to assess the potential of 3D printing to make space exploration cheaper and more efficient. Rocket parts built using this technology have passed NASA firing tests. NASA are currently in Phase One of a three-phase plan to develop a method for printing food on long space voyages.

Body Parts - Bioprinters use a "bio-ink" made of living cell mixtures to form human tissue. Basically, the bio-ink is used to build a 3D structure of cells, layer by layer, to form tissue. Organovo announced in April that they had successfully printed human liver tissue capable of performing all the functions required of a liver.

Product design and model making - You can create designs or print 3D models of just about anything under the sun. For example Scott Summi created the world’s first 3D printed acoustic guitar; the medical industry use 3D printing to create prototypes that mimic the look and feel of the finished medical device which allows doctors, researchers and medical device manufacturers to work fast, test thoroughly and customize like never before.  Fashion designer Iris van Herpen and shoe designer Rem D Koolhaas have collaborated to create 3D printing shoes that look like tree roots.

Art and Digital Sculpture -  photographers and sculptors have turned to 3D printing as a creative outlet. They use 3D printing as a way to get yet another layer of creativity to their works.

Rapid prototyping - 3D printers hav have been used extensively for rapid prototyping and research purposes. These are generally larger machines that use proprietary powdered metals, casting media (e.g. sand), plastics, paper or cartridges, and are used for creating prototype by universities and commercial companies.

Product customization - For companies that sell custom, one-of-a-kind applications, such as a personalized medical device, they can manufacture the finished product to exact custom specifications in a very short time. Nokia has released the 3D designs for its case so that owners can customize their own case and have it 3D printed.

Can you fathom that your organization’s existence could be threatened? The 3D printing technology has applications for almost any industry or field. For companies that make and sell products en masse, it gives them the ability to turn a design into a prototype in perhaps one-tenth the time of traditional manufacturing methods. Potentially great organizations will be crippled if leaders refuse to be aware of how the 3D printing technology can transform their businesses and continue to manage their business as usual.

Is your organization investing in 3D printing technology? If your business isn't already investing in 3D printing, you must ask yourself  "Why not?"

The 3D printing technology is not only limited to the industries of Product Design and Development but is also ideal for other industries such a metal casting, jewelery and dental. 3D printers are already in use among many businesses, from manufacturing to pharmaceuticals to consumers goods, and have generated a diverse set of use cases.

A recent Gartner report says "Early Adopters of 3D Printing Technology Could Gain an Innovation Advantage Over Rivals". The report predicting that enterprise-class 3D printers will be available for less than $2,000 by 2016. Check out the Gartner Report

According to the global research firm McKinsey - 3D printing will be used for making highly complex, low-volume and highly customizable parts. MGI estimates that 3D printing could generate $100 billion to $400 billion in economic impact per year by 2025 from direct manufacturing of parts. 30~50% of total complex, low-volume and highly customizable parts could be 3D printed. Read more