Further Required Research
By this point, the technology of 3-D printing has made a strong case for its integration in masse to most companies’ inventories, however as with any technology, one should look at the “difficult” questions first, as in does my company even need this technology at this time? What impact and what specific goals do I hope to accomplish purchasing this piece of equipment? Is there an even cheaper and faster way to get more product that does not require the 3-D printer? These questions are philosophical in nature, but form the basis of any company’s mission, and it is necessary to understand that the 3-D printing technology is still in its neonate stage and it is limited in the range of products it can create (Vasquez, 2015). Furthermore, before jumping on to the new technological wave, it would be advisable to look at the advantages and disadvantages of 3-D printing versus current manufacturing technologies, say CNC machining in subtractive manufacturing. Currently, it makes much more sense to devise new products using CNC because of its affordable cost, the high accuracy it offers and the wide range of materials from which it can operate, with not being limited to only plastic fiber as in the 3-D printer (Lennings, 2013).