High mix, low volume production will be essential in the move from global to regional supply chains. Additive manufacturing lets SMEs compete with major players.
From the dawn of mass production, lower unit costs have depended on standardization to simplify the production process and reduce the complexity of both inputs and the supply chains that deliver them. With the fracturing of global supply chains because of the pandemic, and now the war in Ukraine, there is a renewed emphasis on regional production with shorter, more robust supply lines.
This has renewed interest in long-neglected aspects of American manufacturing, such as primary steel production. It presents an enormous opportunity for value-adding manufacturers to carve out a profitable niche in a sector where only huge players previously held large-scale economies.
Additive manufacturing is an affordable option for small and medium-sized companies. It critically concentrates value at the production design phase, giving creative companies an advantage, large or small.
Jim Anderton speaks with industry experts about how additive manufacturing can rebuild American manufacturing.
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Watch part 2 of this series on Additive Manufacturing: Can Additive Restore Global Manufacturing and Broken Supply Chains?
