It is no doubt that 3D printing isn’t a very new concept for us now. The technology has been adopted among many industries especially dealing with custom prototype in China. The supply chain is one area that has been hugely affected by advancements in prototype China. Rapid prototyping has so many applications already and has also shown great potential for future applications in various fields. The best part about using 3D printing for rapid prototyping is that different materials may be used depending on the preferences of the manufacturer.
Rapid Prototyping Is Changing The Manufacturing Process
Let us have a look at some remarkable ways in which rapid prototyping has affected the product design, handling, and supply chain processes:
Shortened product design and testing process
Manufacturers are just beginning to reap the benefits associated with 3D printing since the technology has now become more easily accessible. Rapid prototyping has a ton of benefits to offer the world of production, especially in design.
The most prominent one is that now prototyping has been moved in-house and industries do not need to outsource the services. The process from designing to the production of the actual item has been shortened as it has become very easy to carry out desirability and durability tests. The tests can either be done in quick succession or even simultaneously.
This benefit has brought huge breakthroughs especially in healthcare where innovations are designed and testing without harming people. These far-reaching applications have made rapid prototyping very key in manufacturing; several options and designs are tested before they are made available to the outside world for use by people.
Smarter packaging for shelf appeal and transportation
Some of the ingredients that are commonly used to make modern-day packaging include ABS, PLA, and polycarbonate. These can be prototyped to create fully functional and practical packages in which the products are put when they are being shipped.
Different variants of a package can be produced fast for quick comparison after which the most suitable one is chosen.
Reduced inventory and better product personalization
In the past, products used to be manufactured and just lay around just waiting for demand options. This has changed and still keeps improving. Today, manufacturers don’t need a lot of warehouse space to store their products. They are leveraging virtual inventories where products are only made when the demand arises.
Again, when the items are produced on demand, there’s a higher chance that the items will be customized. All this happens under fast turn-around times and so the customers don’t’ have to wait very long. How cool is it that manufacturers can now offer bespoke products, something that was almost impossible not so long ago? This means that production has now become more dynamic and exciting. The potential of this aspect of manufacturing is significantly huge as there is a lot that is still yet to come.
Conclusion
Rapid prototyping has done an amazing job of improving the response time and so it makes decision making very easy. This greatly reduces the risk of error and wastage and makes the production process very smooth. The overall risks and chance of the workers redoing the work are less.
Rapid prototyping translates to a smoother manufacturing process, especially in the supply chain. Generally, the processes in manufacturing have become more flexible, customer-friendly, and more profitable for the shareholders as they are now able to produce better products quickly.
