Jabil Issues New Report – 3D Printing Trends: Five Major Developments

3D printing has been around for over 30 years, but now it’s ready for mainstream manufacturing. From the 1950s to the 1980s, the U.S. manufacturing industry was very labor-intensive, low-tech and centered on individual strength and stamina.

Today, time is our most precious commodity. Competitive pressures and evolving business models mean companies must shrink development cycles and move in the right direction with speed and agility. With a new class of better-performing machines, more materials available and greater ability to deliver parts that are true to their mechanical properties, 3D printing is transforming manufacturing.

From its conception, 3D printing has had the potential to change the way goods are manufactured. The possible benefits have strategic implications: flexibility, time-to-market, customization, distributed manufacturing and much more. Although challenges remain, the opportunities of 3D printing are worth pursuing.

As a follow-up to a 2017 study, Jabil sponsored a new 3D printing trends survey, focusing on forecasting where additive manufacturing is headed while looking at current realities. Conducted by Dimensional Research, the survey contains insight from more than 300 participants responsible for decisions around 3D printing at manufacturing companies and reveals the experiences and opinions of professionals who are “in the trenches.” Download the most recent report.

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