com). The second major difference between these
technologies is that 3-D printers seamlessly integrate
with computer-assisted design (CAD) software and
other digital files like magnetic resonance imaging. At the end of the product design process, the design-
er’s work can be saved as an STL (an industry-
standard stereo-lithography format) or similar file. The designer simply clicks ‘print’ and then chooses
the applicable 3-D printer . 3-D printers utilize native
CAD data from commercial programs marketed by
SolidWorks and Autodesk or free design packages such
as Blender and Google SketchUp (‘‘ 3- D Printing,’ ’
2011). These 3-D printers are driven by Magics RP ,
VisCAM, and Netfabb software. 3-D printing has been compared to such disruptive
technologies as digital books and music downloads
that enable consumers to order their selections on-
line, allow firms to profitably serve small market
segments, and enable companies to operate with
little or no unsold finished goods inventory . Current
applications of 3-D printing typically involve small-
quantity production runs of small, complex items. These include mass-customized products, prototypes
and mockups, replacement parts, medical and dental
applications, and bridge manufacturing. Some
experts have also argued that 3-D printing will sig-
nificantly reduce the advantages of producing small
lot sizes in low-wage countries via reduced need for
factory workers (‘ ‘Print Me,’ ’ 2011). 1.1. 3-D printing and mass customization
3-D printing has been both compared to and con-
trasted with mass customization. Advocates of 3-D
printing argue that this technology , like mass cus-
tomization, enables firms to economically build
custom products in small quantities. While both
processes can profitably make limited-quantity lot
sizes and share other benefits, they are very differ-
ent in terms of their manufacturing technology and
logistics requirements. Unlike 3-D printing, mass customization relies on
either using different combinations of pre-assembled
modular parts or delayed differentiation strategies. Dell, for example, mass customizes computers by
assembling different combinations of display cards,
hard drives, microprocessors, and computer memory
based on a customer’s individual preference. Other
firms that use mass customization rely on delayed
differentiation production systems that complete the
building of partially-constructed products based on a
customer’s order requirements (Berman, 2002). In contrast, 3-D printing uses CAD software and
additive manufacturing-based technologies to print
objects through fusing a variety of materials with a
laser . While the raw materials in mass customization
are typically component parts, 3-D printing uses such
raw materials as plastics; resins; super alloys, such as
nickel-based chromium and cobalt chrominium;
stainless steel; titanium; polymers; and ceramics. Since the component parts that are used in mass
customization typically come from multiple suppli-
ers, mass customization requires a high degree of
supply chain integration to ensure that the right
parts are available in the right quantities at the right
times. 3-D printing, on the other hand, uses readily-
available supplies that can be purchased from a
small number of vendors. And while mass customization production is often
team-based, in 3-D printing, the manufacturing pro-
cess is automated and based on CAD software. Ac-
cording to the chief executive officer of 3D Systems
Inc., a maker of 3-D printers, the technology does not
require constant attention by an operator , or jogs or
fixtures to create a part: ‘‘ All you have to do is load
a file and you can replicate shapes that are not
manufacturable through traditional methods. .