Here's how you can delegate tasks and responsibilities effectively to your team members in 3D Printing.

In my experience, 3D printing isn't as challenging as it seems, even for individuals without prior experience. From what I've observed, curiosity and creativity play crucial roles in 3D printing. Therefore, understanding the expertise within the team is best achieved through group dynamics to identify their strengths. Sometimes, those deeply entrenched in the field may exhibit limitations in generating new ideas, while others with a fresh perspective can offer innovative solutions.

Another thing to do is ask questions. Whether you know everything or not isn't the point here though. What matters is their response and your understanding of what is required. Someone on your team may not be expressly trained in something but if their aptitude or curious mind can understand the concept then you have a strong starting point. People want to learn, let them(within reason).

In this case it's also important to make the team understand that their roles also involve working with each other. If the system has multiple people attending to the same printer at various intervals, allow for communication. Communication needs to be the first priority. Be it written with some sort of notation on a piece of paper next to the machine or just talking with someone directly. Of course there's a time cost that can be associated with finding someone who may have had to step away for whatever reason but there should also be something in place like a note pad or similar to indicate that to others on the production floor. There's more nuance to get into but character limits.

One thing I Have learned in thsi field is that its not wise to expect every set of skill from a single person. It is not necessary that 3D Designer has also a good sense of supporting the Models. Or someone with good sense of Supports is a good Designer. If a 3D Designer has spent significant time personally supporting the Models and 3D Printing them. He would always consider the factors while designing and ease of others that have to Print his models.

Set (SMART) objectives is of course an adequate possibility to delegate tasks and responibilities effectively. Especially when you intend to delegate tasks on a strategic level e.g. to install a closed material loop to increase sustainability and of course cost effectiveness. When you explain the potential advantage to your employees they will have a high buy-in as they can understand easiliy the direct influnece of the task to improved KPI's. The more deep you're able to explain your expectation the more high is the chance that you're delegated tasks and responsibilities will be realized with high motivation as the employee understand the direct impact on your KPI.

This can also be looked at as asking where extra help is needed. This by further extension necessitates that the proper work culture and atmosphere has been engendered. If people feel like asking for help puts their job in jeopardy, that is a massive problem. People who work hard only because they fear losing their job will lead to high turnover; which can be indicative of a managerial issue or a flaw in the hiring process. Monitoring progress is far more involved than some may initially think. At the same time it can require a hands-off approach.