Faster Prototype Design: Lastly, AM can expedite prototyping. Since AM processes eliminate traditional intermediate steps, it is possible to make alterations in real-time. When compared to traditional prototyping, AM offers a more dynamic, design-driven process [4].<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nHowever, despite AM\u2019s clear benefits relative to traditional techniques, a few key barriers and complexities have prevented quicker adoption and roll-out across the industry. First, the cost of failure in commercial aerospace is incredibly high, creating the need for strenuous certification and qualification requirements for parts, which often take multiple years to receive. Second, the full effect of fatigue and aging on AM alloys isn\u2019t fully-known, which has restricted their use primarily to non-structural and non-critical parts [1].<\/p>\n
Nonetheless, most experts agree on the importance of AM in the future of aerospace manufacturing and the necessity for today\u2019s manufacturers to develop differentiated techniques to maintain their market positions as AM knowledge and certification increase.<\/p>\n
General Electric has long recognized the importance of AM in aerospace\u2019s future. Although GE\u2019s Additive unit is less than 2.5 years old, since its creation management has consistently delivered a message of investment and focus. Through December 2016, GE had invested approximately $1.5 billion in manufacturing and additive technologies and had earned 346 patents in powder metals used for the additive process [5].<\/p>\n
In 2015 received FAA clearance for the first ever 3D-printed part for use in a commercial jet engine [4] (CFM\u2019s LEAP engine, which is used in over 1,000 aircraft, including the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737) [6]. Additionally, in November 2018, GE announced that it received FAA clearance to replace a part in the Boeing 747\u2019s GEnx engine with an AM part, the first ever used in the engine. The new part reduces manufacturing waste by as much as 90% and weighs approximately 10% less than the conventionally manufactured part, all while reducing GE\u2019s unit production cost for the part [7].<\/p>\n
Lastly, in July 2018 GE launched its Manufacturing Partner Network, with the intention of creating \u201can open, competitive marketplace that will accelerate both supply and demand for additive manufacturing\u201d by \u201caddressing several commercial challenges to ensure the additive industry reaches its next inflection point\u201d [8]. Specifically, the initiative will promote knowledge sharing across the network, including partner access to over 150 GE consultants and technical support and the use of new GE additive technologies for testing, feedback, and future product development.<\/p>\n
Going forward, I recommend that GE adopt a dual focus on its own internal capabilities and its Manufacturing Partner Network. I believe that the company recognizes the barriers to mass adoption within the industry and smartly is looking toward a larger network to collectively help move the industry forward. While doing so, however, GE should continue to proprietarily develop its own capabilities and technologies, as the aerospace supply chain is relatively consolidated, and most contracts are won by a single supplier for a high dollar amount.<\/p>\n
A key question for GE as it looks toward the future is how it balances its own proprietary capability development vs. knowledge sharing with its partners for the benefit of broader industry progress. Which should GE prioritize, and is it possible to be both a collaborative partner and the clear industry leader with differentiated capabilities? Additionally, while outside the scope of this writing, how does GE balance investments in other AM applications with more immediate and monetizable near-term uses but less long-term potential (such as auto, medical, etc.) with investments in aerospace AM? Lastly, in light of the larger issues GE as a whole is facing, how does the company ensure that AM receives adequate investment and support amid management\u2019s restructuring and cost cutting initiatives?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
(785 words)<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
[1]\u00a0C. W. J. Lim, K. Q. Le, Q. Lu and C. H. Wong, “An Overview of 3-D Printing in Manufacturing, Aerospace, and Automotive Industries,” in IEEE Potentials, vol. 35, no. 4, pp. 18-22, July-Aug. 2016. doi: 10.1109\/MPOT.2016.2540098. URL: http:\/\/ieeexplore.ieee.org.ezp-prod1.hul.harvard.edu\/stamp\/stamp.jsp?tp=&arnumber=7517429&isnumber=7517414<\/p>\n
[2]\u00a0Marchese, K., Crane, J. and Haley, C. (2015). 3D opportunity for the supply chain: Additive manufacturing delivers. [online] Deloitte Insights. Available at: https:\/\/www2.deloitte.com\/insights\/us\/en\/focus\/3d-opportunity\/additive-manufacturing-3d-printing-supply-chain-transformation.html [Accessed 11 Nov. 2018].<\/p>\n
[3]\u00a0Kroll, E. and Buchris, E. (2018). Weight reduction of 3D-printed cylindrical and toroidal pressure vessels through shape modification. Procedia Manufacturing, 21, pp.133-140. Available at:\u00a0https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S2351978918301380\u00a0[Accessed 11 Nov. 2018].<\/p>\n
[4]\u00a0GE Additive. (2018). What is Additive Manufacturing?. [online] Available at: https:\/\/www.ge.com\/additive\/additive-manufacturing [Accessed 11 Nov. 2018].<\/p>\n
[5]\u00a0General Electric (2016). GE makes significant progress with investments in additive equipment companies. [online] Available at: https:\/\/www.ge.com\/additive\/press-releases\/ge-makes-significant-progress-investments-additive-equipment-companies [Accessed 11 Nov. 2018].<\/p>\n
[6]\u00a0CFM International (2018). CFM LOGS $15.7 BILLION IN ORDERS AT 2018 FARNBOROUGH AIRSHOW. [online] Available at: https:\/\/www.cfmaeroengines.com\/press-articles\/cfm-logs-15-7-billion-orders-2018-farnborough-airshow\/ [Accessed 11 Nov. 2018].<\/p>\n
[7]\u00a0General Electric (2018). First additive manufactured part to be installed on GEnx commercial airline engines. [online] Available at: https:\/\/www.ge.com\/additive\/press-releases\/first-additive-manufactured-part-be-installed-genx-commercial-airline-engines [Accessed 11 Nov. 2018].<\/p>\n
[8]\u00a0General Electric (2018). GE Additive Launches Manufacturing Partner Network. [online] Available at: https:\/\/www.ge.com\/additive\/press-releases\/ge-additive-launches-manufacturing-partner-network [Accessed 11 Nov. 2018].<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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