digital inventory: how 3d printing lets manufacturers rely less on warehouses of stuff

Supply chain management and the production and storage of spare parts are a sticking point in the global manufacturing industry.
Spare parts and replacement parts are traditionally stored on the shelves in the warehouse after being produced with the components used in the original production assembly.
Many of these parts will take up space for several years and some will be idle, but just in case. Out-of-
Once the parts are no longer in stock, the production of the original components may be completely out of date, leaving the owner at a loss and needing to re-invest in brand new products, to replace something that may only be affected by a broken assembly that cannot be replaced.
Many industries rely on physical inventory to meet the needs of the after-sales market and accordingly establish a global supply and distribution network.
For example, with the popularity of individual cars, auto parts are produced in large quantities, and there is a huge demand for various brands and models around the world, due to wear, accidents and shocks, or at the other end of useful component life, each component needs to be replaced eventually.
The predictability of human behavior and the actual occurrence of vehicles in use mean that there is no perfect prediction formula to ensure that the correct parts inventory is used as needed, near any given location.
Storage of parts for the possibility of using parts usually requires a large physical footprint, as well as the personnel who have the facilities to maintain and keep the parts running.
Expensive, large warehouses are waiting for supply demand, which may or may not come ---
It may be that the degree of localization is not enough, or it may not be that the degree of localization is not enough, which is helpful to the demand field.
\"Digital inventory\" is an increasingly popular concept in supply chain management.
Not just a buzzword, the fundamental principle is not to store physical warehouses of large quantities of spare parts at any given time, which may or may not be needed, including parts now --
Outdated original products, the design files of components can be digitally stored and made on demand. Industry 4.
As digitalization becomes the norm, 0 is accelerating, affecting manufacturing end-to-end.
Additive manufacturing (3D printing) is taking a place in agile technology, allowing digital inventory to be adopted.
In the digital inventory solution, the warehouse itself is put on hold, in favor
Demand production facilities near demand source.
Digital files sent safely from the manufacturer ensure OEM-
Accurate design, including facilities from around the world from the original supplier.
Print these files in 3D-
On-site on reliable systems, quality and late repeatability are verified
Machining parts to ensure accurate geometry and surface finish reduces the need for global transport.
The logistics side has a great impact, reducing the time customers have to wait for the required parts, while also reducing the carbon footprint of freight charges.
Of course, this workflow is the best. of-all-World Scene.
In reality, the transition to digital inventory and online inventorysite, on-
Production of demand spare parts is still only in transition.
Verification through every step of this workflow requires careful inspection and new best practices.
One of the key considerations is that sending digital files around the world is a wonderful moment --
But from the IP point of view, it brings a lot of concerns.
Retention of IP is critical for any business operation, and even more so for any task --
Key industries such as national defense or aerospace have shown strong interest in the use of additive manufacturing.
Some companies are addressing IP security issues specific to digital manufacturing requirements, such as identified 3D, which ensures the authorized use of files and traceability throughout the production process.
LEO Lane is also on a similar track, working to ensure the security and consistency of user digital inventory solutions.
Partial consistency is a key issue;
Regardless of the origin, the quality of the parts needs to meet the same standards.
Singapore 3D printed components should have the same physical properties as those made in San Francisco or Berlin.
For example, in the Marine and oil and gas sector, dnv gl is building confidence by evaluating and creating documents that support the reliability of additive manufacturing materials, processes and products.
The labor force itself is one of the most important moving parts of the production process.
Training the next generation and improving the skills of the existing workforce as additive manufacturing is today\'s focus-
Indeed, many industries 4. Technology--
There is a significant skill gap.
Additive manufacturing involves three different processes and requires proper training: Design (
Additive manufacturing or DfAM design with increasing importance)
3D printing and postprocessing.
Increase Educational activitiesthe-
Employment training and apprenticeship are emerging, but more attention and support is needed as the industry expands.
In order to successfully achieve any transition to digital inventory, it is necessary to apply it to existing and newly established workflows.
The industry is largely at the beginning of this long journey of adoption, as emerging technologies and newly created programs are still being validated in many cases, its value has been proven by potential adopters.
The opportunity for global manufacturing is about $12 trillion, and the current value of additive manufacturing is about $7.
3 billion. The journey will not be fast.
While \"disruption\" is still almost synonymous with \"displacement\", the actual disruption of the new workflow will come from areas where additive manufacturing supplements are found instead of alternatives, the traditional manufacturing business.
Discover the best
Fit app--e. g.
Injection molding, CNC and other traditional technologies continue to account for the majority of mass production, and spare parts and on-line manufacturing are also beginning to play the role of additive manufacturing
Demand delivery application-
The right tools for the right job can be used.
In terms of digital inventory solutions, the adoption of additive manufacturing will lead to a new picture of best practices in global manufacturing and supply chain management.