Locking it in: Mitigating the risks of additive manufacturing

摘要

With new frontiers constantly being pushed, few would deny that the opportunities presented by 3D printing/additive manufacturing are aplenty - including possibilities around virtual inventories and even on-demand manufacturing. That said, how do the big brands seize such opportunities while protecting their intellectual property (IP), maintaining consistency, producing best-of-breed repeatable parts and products, and, ultimately, upholding their brand integrity?