How can 3D printing be used in the logistics industry?

The supply chain industry is evolving, and we must keep updated with the technology that impacts our industry in different ways every day. 3D printing is a trend that can bring interesting advancements to our logistics sector. According to the website, The Supply Chain Consulting Group, “3D printing technology enables companies to design and produce new customized products to meet the end user’s growing needs for personalization. Consumers have become accustomed to being able to demand products with variations that were not previously available. The rise of e-commerce is compounding the need for retailers to be innovative and responsive. The extensive use of mobile devices is also feeding the need for instant gratification and same-day deliveries.”?

We spoke with experts in our company, and this is what they had to say:?

Alejandro Mu?oz, Growthmaster at Hubtek said that technology has brought many new ideas and developments that have put us at?the next level. “The biggest challenge for us, as logistics business players, is to?find a way to use those technologies as an advantage instead of seeing them as a threat. We face that duality with 3D printing.? This technology has taken?the idea?of tailored solutions or expedited product solutions to another level since it has made it possible to?get?several products and options even into our own garages. With a good laptop and a 3D printer, you can offer broader options to your customer.”?

How will those products get to the final customer? Through logistics services. “It is worth exploring the rising markets and companies focusing on offering 3D printing solutions because they will need a trusty partner to get those products to their customer. So, to enable a?faster response, both?availability and time performance are?key. From this point of view, 3D printing companies could be an exciting niche?to explore; a blue ocean ready to be conquered by companies that find this challenge as a new opportunity to expand their services and grow their book of customers. Sometimes we need to think outside the box and be creative in taking advantage of these new technologies. Let′s embrace new technologies as boosters to meet our goals instead of seeing them as roadblocks to growth.”?

Vinicius De Araujo, Hubtek’s Business Analyst, affirms that 3D printers are part of the additive manufacturing process that includes a printing device to print different objects of varying shapes and sizes. “The rising demand for manufacturing complex parts, the need to reduce manufacturing expenses, and improvements in product development and supply chains are all factors driving the growth of this market. However, research?shows that building size, as well as pre-and post-processing costs, are factors that are restraining the growth of this market. Also, these markets face several challenges including copyright issues and a lack of awareness and demand for highly skilled professionals.”?

3D printing methods create parts by adding material layer by layer, enabling engineers and designers to produce parts that have geometric complexity in small batches, which is impossible for traditional methods where they must be produced on a?huge scale. Being able to produce on a small scale stimulates?the logistic and supply chain industry a lot.?

He concluded by saying that 3D printers are part of a developing market that, if consolidated, will bring a huge opportunity to?the supply chain when it comes to the production of small parts, as well as for those?transporting these smaller scale batches across the country.?

Finally, we heard from Andrew Gulovsen, CMO here at Hubtek. He argues that the advancement of 3D printing as a localized manufacturing process is a disruption to existing supply chains, but it creates new lanes and modalities of distribution of new materials and equipment. “There's still a need for raw materials and the distribution of those materials and finished goods. While the changes will not be immediate or complete, the 3PL market will need to have a deeper conversation with shippers and manufacturers about those changes and how they will, or may, affect the current lanes and distribution models. The sooner these conversations are had, the sooner the redeployment of capacity can be found and managed.”?