Individual Topical Review Paper Outline
i) Specific Innovation of Interest
The innovation I have chosen is 3D Printer.
By definition, 3D printing is a form of addictive manufacturing technology where a three dimensional object is created by laying down successive layers of material.
Companies no longer need to offshore to supply parts or accessories as they can now produce everything locally with a single process.
3D printer is a disruptive innovation that is likely change the way things are being done, most particularly in the manufacturing industry. Not unlike how CD taking over cassettes or how telephones taking over telegraphs, 3D printing is going to take over big and expensive machines used for manufacturing.
ii) Rationale for Selecting this innovation
3D printer is going to be the next trillion-dollar industry and is potentially the biggest change in how we make things. It is unlikely to only change how things work in the manufacturing industries but also how the world works.
Currently, 3D printing is still not largely used due to its high cost and most manufacturing companies already have their machines used for mass manufacturing. However, price of 3D printers are falling now due to increased number of competitors trying to produce affordable printers.
With 3D printers are becoming more affordable, it’ll lower the barriers of entry to the manufacturing sector. It’ll also be cheaper to produce goods with 3D printers instead of offshoring to other countries due to the savings on transport costs and there isn’t a need to purchase costly machines that only carry out limited processes. With the release of affordable 3D printers, the idea of large production line will become increasingly irrelevant.
iii) Proposed Approach to Development of Paper
- Executive Summary
- Introduction
- Positive Observations
· Ability to print parts and accessories with different mechanical and physical properties
· Decrease cost of production -> Cheaper goods
· Green technology
- Discussion and Analysis
Elaboration of key positive observations
- Negative Observations
· Not sure if there will be more jobs created in the new 3D industry than all the manufacturing jobs that will be lost.
· Printing of Dangerous weapons such as air rifles or other illegal stuffs
- Issues/Challenges
Elaboration of negative observations and possible solutions
- Future Prospects
- Conclusion
Hi Tommy,
ReplyDeleteInteresting topic you have over here. Perhaps you may want to include in your report like is there any countries who have already started adopting this technology? Those who have tried this technology, what were their views? This may probably help to support the future prospects of this technology based on how it is currently being perceived by others.
I thought it was good that you listed the positive and negative observations. I understand that now manufacturing industries uses machines, moulds to develop their products. It is quite a labour intensive industry because the production workers will have to stand infront of the machine and do up the mould. Sometimes the mould may not pass the standards for quality checks because of human error where there might not be consistency. Do you think 3d printers help to mitigate this problem? Like ensures that there is more consistency in the moulds?
Hi Tommy,
ReplyDelete3D printer is a relatively new technology, but it is already breaking traditional mindset of 2D printing.
However, I think probably you need to take into account the cost of the materials for printing? Like the "ink" for the 3D printer.
At the moment from what I understand, 3D printer can only print small parts, and it also doesn't come with colours. So the 3D printer will need to improve further to have a greater coverage.
But 3D printer, I feel, probably can replace the manufacturing industry for those producing physical items. 3D printer, will still not be able to replace those manufacturing industry that requires chips or other electrical/computing functions, which in today's context, probably everything around you will have some form of chip inside.
Cheers!
Jing Hui :)
Hi Tommy,
ReplyDeleteAs mentioned above, feasibility and effectiveness of the 3D printing tech, needs to be evaluated by you. Rationalize in your own words as to how you forsee where 3D printing will be like in the future.
Should you have any questions, feel free to approach me in class or by emails.
Kar-Men
Hi Tommy,
ReplyDeleteThe topic is pretty interesting but I think the outline is slightly brief. Maybe you could look into whether there is really a need/demand for this technology or is it more of a luxury item? Also, perhaps you could also elaborate more on how this innovation emerged and how can it aid us in our daily lives more than it's predecessors?
Just my two cents, hope it helps!
Cynthia