How to Benefit from AM Workflow Management Software: Experts Give Their Advice!

As 3D printing solutions are increasingly adopted in a variety of industries, there has been a clear need for streamlined solutions to ensure that every step of the process of creating parts is optimized. Enter additive manufacturing workflow management software solutions. Also known as MES software, or additive manufacturing execution systems, these softwares are similar to existing manufacturing execution systems, or computerized systems used to track and document every step of transforming a raw material into a final product. However, AM MES solutions have been designed to suit the particular needs of additive manufacturing. This means, they are a software thats work to ensure that any step from the modeling, slicing, printing, all the way through the post-processing processes are optimized and can be accessed and monitored through one simple place. Many also will allow for tracking from purchasing up to shipping the final part, making these softwares especially important for printing service bureaus as they create products for millions of customers a month. So why would it make sense for a company to adopt these softwares? What are the benefits? The limitations? Our experts gave us their opinions on how and why MES solutions are used in their companies.

Our first expert is Mike Moceri, the founder and CEO of MakerOS. He has extensive experience in manufacturing, design and software, starting from 2013 when he co-founded the world’s first 3D printing retail service bureau in Chicago. MakerOS has developed one of the most well-known manufacturing execution systems (MES) in AM. Matthew Forrester, our next expert, looks after the technical side of AM deployment within the L’Oréal group: from prototyping, through industrial applications, to the development and optimization of packaging components for finished goods production. Finally, Gaël Spiral is the manager of Erpro’s site at Toulouse. Erpro is a leading 3D printing service provider located in France. Both l’Oréal and Erpro have integrated an MES solution in order to help to streamline their processes.

Why should a company adopt additive manufacturing workflow softwares?

AM workflow is essentially every step that takes place between creating a model to having an actual finalized part in front of you. Just like in traditional manufacturing, AM MES softwares aim to help manufacturers to organize and track each stage of the manufacturing process, allowing them to monitor but also to have a clear-cut way to manage a part from its conception to its creation. This in turn allows not just faster, more efficient work, but also for less mistakes in the manufacturing process.