Implementing additive manufacturing can be a long and difficult process for many organizations, but if they prepare correctly, they can be set up for success early on.
Recently I sat down with Güngör Kara, Chief Digital Officer of Ottobock, on the new EOS sponsored podcast Additive Snack, to discuss team building for implementing additive manufacturing, how organizations can create radical innovations, and the challenges leaders face when moving into production.
Leaders have to push the limits and help their team to move faster out of its comfort zone, so they can create ideas with a radical innovation approach and then focus on the implementation.
There are three key questions organizations must ask themselves:
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What is the core challenge that needs to be solved?
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What are the possibilities and limitations of additive manufacturing?
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What does it take to successfully implement additive manufacturing?
Güngör mentioned that organizations should start with problem solving. Our Additive Minds consulting team calls this the “Challenge Workshop” where we run a value chain analysis to identify challenges that can be addressed using additive manufacturing.
After identifying challenges, organizations need to understand what is technically possible and achievable to add value to products and supply-chains. Overestimating or underestimating an innovative technology such as additive manufacturing can kill a project in an early stage. Education is a core success factor for our customers, helping ensure realistic expectations towards additive manufacturing.
Lastly, understanding how implementing additive manufacturing fits into the existing operations and core processes is key to decide on a first project that can be implemented without major resistance. After organizations address these three core questions, they have created a basis for a successful implementation.
And it doesn’t stop there:
- Identified challenges will be turned into parts designed for additive manufacturing,
- Small production runs and testing will verify concepts
- Qualification plans need to be put in place
- Employees need to be trained on 3D printing equipment
Organizations need to focus on how to continuously create additional value for their organizations using innovative technologies such as industrial 3D printer. What new business models does it enable? What products can we develop that are not just incremental, but radical innovations? Once you have additive manufacturing implemented as a production technology, you will see that this is just the beginning.
To learn more, listen to this recent episode of Additive Snack! You can subscribe and access it wherever you get your podcasts.
Do not hesitate to reach out to me personally, I’d be happy to assist with any questions you might have.
