How Does Digital Inventory System Support Additive Manufacturing?

How Does Digital Inventory System Support Additive Manufacturing?

One of the most important requirements for organizations considering additive manufacturing for on-demand and sequential production is digital inventory. The use of digital inventory makes it possible to store some components virtually rather than having to have a big physical inventory.

Manufacturers can benefit from more flexible, just-in-time production by having prompt access to design information using digital inventories. In this post, we’ll discuss how digital inventory goes hand-in-hand with additive manufacturing.

How Does It Work?

Manufacturing companies use digital inventory to save their 3D designs in a single, easily accessible location and make them available as needed. One of the key technologies enabling the transformation to digital inventory is 3D printing or additive manufacturing. 3D printing allows you to build components straight using a computerized design file without additional tooling such as molds.

As a result, the entire process is now digitally based, with software serving as the design tool and the production manager. To put it another way, 3D printing encourages companies to rethink how they make things. In addition, it also encourages them to rethink their storage methods.

Since digital information may be kept in cloud storage or on a disk drive and accessed whenever needed, 3D printing eliminates the need for physical storage containers of components in warehouses. Instances like these make the use of digital inventories ideal.

How Is Beneficial?

With spare parts, organizations face the difficulty of making sure they have enough replacement parts on hand to meet the needs of their customers on time. This problem can be solved by an organization simply creating a product when a consumer requests it rather than keeping a physical inventory on hand.

Instead of storing low-demand parts, such as obsolete parts, in a storehouse, they can be reconfigured via 3D printing and kept in a virtual inventory. In addition to saving money on warehousing, this strategy keeps your company lean and responsive by producing spare parts on demand when it is necessary.

In addition to that, the combination of 3D printing and digital inventory can minimize shipping expenses and even eliminate import/export expenses. When a part fails in a manufacturing plant, it can take weeks or even months to send a replacement from a storehouse or an international vendor to the factory.

This process can be streamlined by eliminating the requirement to transport spare parts altogether. By eliminating the need to ship parts, manufacturers can save on transportation costs by printing replacements on-site instead of relying on third-party vendors.

As a result, transportation costs are reduced, shipping volumes are halved, and delivery times for parts are shortened. Companies functioning in remote areas, such as oil rigs and space stations, can benefit greatly from keeping digital inventories on hand to simplify logistics and speed up deliveries.

Keeping the above-mentioned points in mind, companies looking to gain an economic advantage by leveraging additive manufacturing should consider getting in touch with Falcon Technologies International. Our wide range of services includes low volume production, Jigs and fixtures, metal 3D Printing, medical 3D printing, etc. Contact us and check out our LinkedIn page to learn more about us