CHAPTER EIGHTWider Implications of 3D Printing
It is a fact that, with every invention, there is a use or consequence that its creator didn't expect and that had to be controlled. Cassette recorders were useful for recording voice and music, but legislation had to be amended to allow for the widespread tape-to-tape recording that they permitted, which conflicted with the payment of royalties. USB memory sticks are useful for transferring files between systems, but companies had to curb their use by imposing IT security measures to counter the threat from viruses and security breaches. 3D printing is no different, and there are several wider implications that supply chains, the companies involved in them, and others beyond those need to consider. Of course, not every supply chain will be able to control all those wider aspects, but they can and should take account of them.
The adoption of 3D printing would appear to be straightforward, and initially many will view it as simply a new way to make things, much as they would an innovative way to mill material or an improved lathe. However, 3D printing is a significantly different manufacturing technique, involving a radical change in how businesses operate, from design to distribution, and several implications need to be taken into account when considering or actually using it. These can be grouped into nine categories:
- Legal, liability, and intellectual property (IP)
- Quality management
- Standards
- Regulation and accreditation
- Health ...