The impact of 3D printing on supply chains

Today, many industries are hugely reliant on production and supplies from China and Southeast Asia, particularly in sectors like manufacturing and logistics. During the global health pandemic, broken supply chains affected the activities of companies in many industrial sectors. More than 94% of FORTUNE 1000 companies reported that the crisis was having a major impact on their supply chain. Therefore, the pandemic highlighted the limitations of traditional methods, in particular their lack of agility.

Can 3D printing technologies add flexibility to current supply chains?

During the first few months of the pandemic, one sector whose importance emerged was 3D printing. This was especially visible in the medical sector, where it was employed to manufacture emergency equipment for medical staff and patients from all over the world. In a matter of days, actors in the 3D printing sector managed to produce critical devices for the healthcare sector, from masks to ventilators, to help save lives.

In the medical sector, 3D printing was used to produce face shields urgently to protect healthcare professionals

But behind the scenes, manufacturers from all types of industries were suffering from the limitations of current supply chains too. In particular because of the lack of local manufacturing and extended lead times. So, can looking toward 3D printing be part of the solution?