Question: 3D printers have been getting a lot of press lately as they have moved out of the prototype lab and into the home office. With prices becoming affordable, these devices are being found in spaces as diverse as public libraries, schools, and small businesses. At the same time, the 3D printers can support not only the printing of items using a special polymer but also using various metal alloys.
This article from McKinsey and Company discusses the rise of 3D printers in more detail.
• 3D Printing Takes Shape - McKinsey (By Daniel Cohen, Matthew Sargeant, and Ken Somers)
And here are two recent articles from Industry Week Magazine:
• Five Questions to Shape a Winning 3-D Printing Strategy
• How 3-D Printing Could Disrupt Your Supply Chain
After you read the articles, the questions for discussion are:
1. Is the rise of 3D printers a disruptive innovation in and of itself, or does it represent a disruptive innovation via its capabilities?
2. What does product production via 3D printers mean for traditional production operations?