A Cross-Functional Approach to Metal Additive Manufacturing in Enterprise

Abstract

Diverse internal capabilities are to be developed and connected to enable rapid and robust design and manufacturing of additively manufactured parts to meet the needs of mid to low volume production gaps in a large orgnization. This process includes elements of Design, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain followed with the application of application of modeling methods to simulate the additive manufacturing process of the part to reduce manufacturing related redesign. Akin to the traditional development process of design, analyze, prototype and evaluate, this process aims to leverage digital technologies and cross-functional expertise early in the design process to reduce time to market delays and late findings. This process aims to focus feedback from design, predictive modeling, manufacturing, and supply chain engineers during the concept generation process. The model is used to inform the concept using tacit knowledge, simulation, additive manufacturing, and functional prototypes to reduce late and costly changes to the design later in the product development process and is modeled using a Design Structure Matrix to evauluate improvements in the new process. The model has shown to reduce the feedback loops required to take a design to completion.