Additive Manufacturing relies on 3D printing as the go-to technology. Most importantly, it expresses a new production paradigm which allows materials to be used in a more efficient and sustainable way to create shapes and solutions that would otherwise be unattainable with traditional solutions. This concept applies both to the product and the process needed to make it: manufacture and production constitute, today, an indissoluble reality.
Breaking up with established patterns, additive manufacturing integrates solutions that make processes along the entire product life cycle much more efficient, from initial design to after-sales support. Manufacture and production walk side by side on the path of continuous innovation, fully supported by the potential of digital technologies.
Thanks to the know-how acquired in over fifteen years of experience, Protocube Reply has developed a consulting pathway that helps product companies to integrate technologies and solutions which significantly improve the efficiency of workflows and generate new business opportunities thanks to the creative and productive potential of 3D printing (i.e. design, product customisation, on-demand production).
Protocube Reply’s Additive Manufacturing consulting aims at improving manufacturing and production efficiency according to the innovative logics introduced by Industry 4.0. The new paradigm promotes a progressive transformation, compatible with the digital technologies already in use within the company: a more sustainable approach than full technological replacement.
ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING INTEGRATION
TRADITIONAL PRODUCT LIFE CYCLE
ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING CONSULTING
A PRACTICAL, TAILOR-MADE PATHWAY FOR EACH COMPANY
- Assessment of the general characteristics of the company’s business and processes
- Preparation of a consulting report with indications on the potential for AM integration within business processes with an estimate of the advantages that can be achieved
A series of targeted surveys identify the characteristics of the company’s specific business and the current state of production processes. After analysing the data obtained according to the KPIs of additive technologies, a report is prepared to define the company’s affinity with their possible implementation.
The information flow shared with the management team allows us to quantify the possible benefits of the AM integration with the aim of restructuring processes and the general business plan.
- Massive analysis of all the elements
- Selection of the elements compatible with additive manufacturing
- Identification of optimal 3D printing materials and technologies for production
An automated process analyses all the elements forming the company’s PLM, to define a scale of compatibility with additive production technologies. Through a structured and rigorous approach, it is possible to evaluate all the possibilities of Additive Manufacturing integration, quantifying in detail the advantages achievable.
Along with the analytical activity, the most suitable 3D printing materials and technologies are chosen according to the production requirements to be implemented in each process.
- Summary of analysed data and AM implementation project
- Simulation of AM integration within the processes and validation of the solutions
- Implementation of full AM integration into production processes
Once the evaluation framework has been defined, to support the decision-making phase, an implementation plan is proposed with the aim to integrate Additive Manufacturing technologies without disrupting the existing production system, minimising the impact of the transition. The implementation is planned step-by-step, to allow each company to prepare a multi-year investment plan in innovation backed by constant monitoring of the results obtained.
The next step is the definition of a proof of concept that validates the suggested solutions through a series of programmed simulations. A positive outcome confirms the feasibility of the project and gives the green light to proceed with the real integration of Additive Manufacturing solutions into the company’s production processes.