Self production economy - Artikel: Additive manufacturing and sustainability: an exploratory study of the advantages and challenges

7 important questions on Self production economy - Artikel: Additive manufacturing and sustainability: an exploratory study of the advantages and challenges

What is additive manufacturing? (AM)

It covers a broad range of production technologies that fabricate layer by layer enabling three-dimensional objects to be printed on demand. AM is increasingly being used for direct manufacturing like aerospace and the medical sector

Ford & Despeisse (2015) - Advanced manufacturing technologies in combination with customer demand for more customized products cause a shift in scale and distribution of manufacturing. New technologies are considered, as additive manufacturing. How can AM contribute to sustainable society through the economic, societal and policy perspective?

* Economic: it competes with the traditional process.
* Social sustainability: health benefits, because employees do not have to be confronted with emissions in the production process. However, the emissions in the 3DP process is not proven yet.
* Policy perspective: AM is seen as a tool that can optimize waste reduction, improve flexibility in production location and personalize customer demands.

What are the main sustainable benefits of AM?

  • Improved resource efficiency in production and use phases
  • Extended life through repair
  • Remanufacture and refurbishment
  • Reconfigured value chains
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How can sustainability benefits be achieved through AM? Differently stated: how can self-production (AM) impact sustainability? (also on PPT)

1. Product and process redesign
2. Material input processing
3. Make-to-order
4. Closing the loop


In the PPT
1. Product and process redesign
2. Make-to-order production
3. PLC extension
4. Closing the loop (waste reduction)

What are the sustainable promises of AM?

Producing less waste, and lighter components, reducing material consumption and energy consumption and inventory waste reduction

What about material input processing?

There is a large variety of materials used for AM: liquid, paste, powder and solid sheet

What about make to order component and product manufacturing?

AM is ideal for make-to-order and product manufacturing allowing for spare parts as a replacement and lower cost customization and personalization by using a database of digital designs. Barriers to wider system of spare part include component certification and legal issues concerning liability

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