Global supply chains have been under massive pressure in the last couple of years and we all know AM can reduce at least some of this pain by producing parts on-demand closer to the point of consumption, reducing the dependency on off-shore suppliers and shipping.
So why was AM under-utilized to solve (at least some of) these pain points? How are customers looking at AM - and what is missing for AM to be more mainstream?
Key points to take away:
- Too much fragmentation in the printer OEM space and under-investment in Engineering (versus R&D) meaning too many early stage, "POC level" printers, and not enough robust printers - with repeatability, reliability, ease of use, and good customer service.
- Parts identification for AM - and parts qualification for AM (i.e. allowing for the part to be made with AM instead of CNC, for example) takes too long and reduces the case for AM as a "back up generator".
- Customers are too risk averse and hesitant to adopt AM - how can we as an industry make it easier for them.
Learning Objectives:
- Upon completion, AM OEMs will be able to better understand their customers' gaps preventing wider adoption and consider how to best address those gaps.
- Upon completion, AM users will be asked to do a deeper in-house review of their internal blockers to wider AM adoption.
- Upon completion, participants can have an adoption-minded dialogue on how to collaborate to close the gaps.
