The world is going through a major economic and industrial transformation that impacts everything from the cars we drive to the clothes we wear to the education and jobs our children will have in the future. This change is what Klaus Schwab, the founder of the World Economic Forum, termed the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
In the 18th century, the development of the steam engine sparked the first industrial revolution, and textile manufacturing moved from people’s homes to factories. Over the next 100 or so years, the invention and use of electricity created the capability for mass production, and assembly lines were born. Since the mid-20th century, the development of electronics and information technology has led to more automation and the spread of mass production assembly lines on a global scale. Each of these eras created tectonic shifts not only for how goods were produced and delivered but also how people lived and worked around the world.
This Fourth Industrial Revolution is being sparked by ubiquitous connectivity coupled with technologies like robotics, artificial intelligence, sensors, and 3D printing. All industries are going through change but perhaps none as dramatically as the $12 trillion manufacturing sector. In the 3D printing space alone the last year has seen more advances than the previous 20 years combined. And the innovation is growing exponentially.
Last week at RAPID + TCT, the oldest and largest 3D additive manufacturing conference in the world, I had the privilege of taking the stage with other industry innovators to discuss this transformation and how we, as an industry, should go forward. These advancements mark a turning point – and one where the industry needs to join together, understand the larger transformational future in front of us, and forge ahead to seize this massive opportunity.
So what’s required to take the industry to the next level?
Following are six essential keys that I believe will unlock this transformation:
- World-Class Product and Technology Capabilities – Quite simply, the technology needs to keep improving and advance beyond traditional solutions. Improved speed, performance, up-time and quality will enable world-class 3D printing technology performing at a higher level. Much like the unstoppable march of Moore’s Law transformed the computing industry, I believe our technological advancements will not only continue, but accelerate from here.
- Open Materials Platform to Drive Down Costs – Lowering the cost of advanced 3D printing materials and applications is critical. Much as we have seen in the software industry, an open ecosystem of collaborators and leading-edge lab facilities will drive innovation and dramatically lower costs, opening up more opportunity for innovation and market participants.
- Materials Diversity – Open platforms also help drive diversity. A wide array of materials are at the center of successful manufacturing; therefore, there needs to be a greater variety of 3D printing materials available and produced at mass scale for additive technologies to succeed. This will accelerate development of new materials innovation and advancements.
- New Design Methods for Additive – Old school design methods based on the technologies of yesterday will no longer suffice. 3D requires a complete rethinking of the product design process and educational institutions and software design vendors need to embrace future possibilities in their trainings and products. MIT’s new course focusing on 3D design for manufacturing is a great example for others to follow.
- Reinvention of Supply Chains – The establishment of more service bureaus or local, distributed sites from the world’s largest manufacturers will enable companies to ship digital designs and raw materials instead of tangible goods. Shortening and localizing the supply chain will allow product production to happen closer to the point of consumption, with rapid speed, and reduced environmental impact.
- Regulations and Standards – Every industrial revolution has required governments, businesses, and institutions to re-evaluate existing policies and procedures. The industry must come together to establish a set of regulations and standards to help guarantee that additive manufacturing technologies, materials and processes are reliable and safe.
As Mr. Schwab says, “In its scale, scope, and complexity, the transformation will be unlike anything humankind has experienced before.” If I have learned anything, it’s that the opportunity afforded by the next industrial revolution is immense and open to many. Now is the time for our industry to dream big, collaborate on solutions to drive innovation and adoption, and accelerate the progress on our journey together.
