![\"\"](\"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/11\/Field-Ready-Parts.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nOne NGO called \u201cField Ready\u201d is leading the charge on Humanitarian AM. Field Ready partnered with World Vision (an independent aid organization) in Kathmandu to repair relief cook stoves that had been damaged in shipping. Instead of waiting additional months for a new set of cook stoves, with no guarantee that the replacement stoves would arrive intact, Field Ready provided 3D printers to create replacement parts on site. In addition, they developed an app that scans a broken pipe opening, feeds that information to the 3D printer, and creates a complementary fitted pipe to improve access to water immediately following disaster.[vi]<\/p>\n
While private innovation has taken root, US governmental response to disaster has remained inefficient. Large scale efforts to improve the relief supply chain have focused on the front end of the chain (i.e. planning, procurement, and shipping of goods), and the solution has been a shift to cash donations because they are the most flexible form of aid. [vii] This shift to cash enables local governments to help determine supply of goods for their regions, however it does nothing to solve the underlying issue of damages and delays in shipment, or the need for real-time customized response.<\/p>\n
The other way the US provides aid is by donating sizeable sums of money to construction or infrastructure projects. The issue is this money goes to US company contracts, and does little to bolster the local economy of the disaster area. This is most recently displayed in Puerto Rico, where 90% of the $5 billion of aid disbursed to date has gone to US based companies, instead of local companies that could benefit from an injection of capital. [viii]<\/p>\n
Moving forward, the US must focus on local solutions that include disaster relief education programs, AM machines, and training locals in the use of those machines (see endnote [ix] for an example training document). Disaster relief education should be mandatory and accessible online to both US first responders, and to the general public of the country in need. Many European nations have instituted a requirement for uniform first responder training; if we were to do the same, and include AM training in that module, we could have a highly adaptable response team in each local community. [x] In addition, the new US solution must account for local training in the use of AM machines. As Deloitte explains, \u201cby teaching AM technical skills to locals, and by supplying open-source software and part designs to enable them to continue to produce parts and products on-demand, [US Aid Orgs] can develop a local sustainable talent pool\u2026which in turn encourages economic development.\u201d [xi]<\/p>\n
While AM does not solve the immediate need for food supplies or bottled water, it can replace much of our traditional, wasteful aid supply chain. My outstanding question is how can we make AM feasible and cost effective in areas without power or generators? Could Solar work, and if so, how costly might that be?<\/p>\n
[Word Count 737]<\/p>\n
[i]: 性视界 Business Review, Anisya Thomas and Lynn Fritz, \u201cDisaster Relief, Inc.\u201d November 2006, https:\/\/hbr.org\/2006\/11\/disaster-relief-inc<\/a>, Accessed November 2018<\/p>\n [ii]: The New York Times, Frances Robles, \u201cContainers of Hurricane Donations Found Rotting in a Puerto Rico Parking Lot\u201d, August 2018, https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2018\/08\/10\/us\/puerto-rico-aid.html<\/a>,\u00a0Accessed November 2018<\/p>\n [iii]: United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, \u201cShrinking the Supply Chain, Hyperlocal Manufacturing and 3D Printing in Humanitarian Response\u201d, July 2015 https:\/\/www.unocha.org\/sites\/unocha\/files\/Shrinking%20the%20Supply%20Chain.pdf<\/a>,\u00a0Accessed November 2018<\/p>\n [iv]: Deloitte Review, Issue 19, Brenna Sniderman, Vikram Rajan, Parker Baum: \u201c3D opportunity for life: Additive manufacturing takes humanitarian action\u201d, July 2016 https:\/\/www2.deloitte.com\/insights\/us\/en\/deloitte-review\/issue-19\/3d-printing-for-humanitarian-action.html<\/a>,\u00a0Accessed November 2018<\/p>\n [v]: United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, \u201cShrinking the Supply Chain, Hyperlocal Manufacturing and 3D Printing in Humanitarian Response\u201d, July 2015 https:\/\/www.unocha.org\/sites\/unocha\/files\/Shrinking%20the%20Supply%20Chain.pdf<\/a>,\u00a0Accessed November 2018<\/p>\n [vi]: Humanitarian Innovation Fund, Laura James: \u201cOpportunities and challenges of distributed manufacturing for humanitarian response\u201d https:\/\/docs.wixstatic.com\/ugd\/4bcea0_044a33fccd7043bea3ae25b9a5e0c198.pdf<\/a> (pg.4),\u00a0Accessed November 2018<\/p>\n [vii]: United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, \u201cShrinking the Supply Chain, Hyperlocal Manufacturing and 3D Printing in Humanitarian Response\u201d, July 2015 https:\/\/www.unocha.org\/sites\/unocha\/files\/Shrinking%20the%20Supply%20Chain.pdf<\/a> (pg.11),\u00a0Accessed November 2018<\/p>\n [viii]: NBC News, Nicole Acevido: \u201cMost federal contracts for Puerto Rico recovery go to U.S.-based, not local companies\u201d September 2018 https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/storyline\/puerto-rico-crisis\/most-federal-contracts-puerto-rico-recovery-go-u-s-based-n913401<\/a>,\u00a0Accessed November 2018<\/p>\n [ix]: Field Ready, \u201cShortcutting Supply Chains For Humanitarian Relief”\u00a0 \u00a0https:\/\/docs.wixstatic.com\/ugd\/84d105_04cb064461754e05a038c53429aad807.pdf<\/a>,\u00a0Accessed November 2018<\/p>\n [x]: NCBI, Ingrassia PL et al. : \u201cEducation and training initiatives for crisis management in the European Union: a web-based analysis of available programs\u201d March, 2014 https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/24642198<\/a>,\u00a0Accessed November 2018<\/p>\n