OCTOBER 2023AEROSPACEDEFENSEREVIEW.COM8In My OpinionAerospace and Defense (A&D) technology developers face increasing risks if they do not appropriately adopt Additive Manufacturing (AM). While much-publicized AM advantages for piece-part designs are already accepted as advantageous as part of big picture production plans, most stakeholders are failing to reap further strategic, operational benefits. These build local competitive advantage as well as improve the industry, paying it forward for critical national security missions. The ProblemThe return on investment analysis for AM adoption is complicated and usually only looks at advantages such as faster prototyping, cost savings and reduced environmental impact. After all, who wouldn't want to gain these improvements? While dabbling in AM is common among the A&D sector, true implementation at scale is very scarce. Over-hype since AM emerged as a standalone technology has, additionally, led to skepticism and trepidation that hinders its adoption across this industry, from which missions could greatly benefit. Critics claim that AM is insufficiently mature, is difficult to inspect, reduces strength/weight ratio for parts and hardware, uses more expensive raw materials, and doesn't adapt to high volume production. Advocates claim that these issues are being mitigated.Adoption Advantages Which Must Be ConsideredIf appropriately qualified and applied, AM can help teams solve a number of their most pressing engineering challenges in unique and STRATEGIC WAYS TO BUILD THE COMPETITIVE EDGE WITH ADDITIVE MANUFACTURINGBy Bob Zimering, Ph.D, Director Of Quality Assurance, Lockheed Martin SpaceBob Zimering
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