Will This Disrupt YOUR Business?

Are you ready?

Here’s a question I posed to my Vistage group last month:

“Who here knows much about 3-D printing and what do you think the impact will be on your business?”

Older members hadn’t considered it while our 30-year-old member not only knows about it, but knows people in the industry, thus underscoring the importance of having a broad-cross section of ages at the Vistage table.

NASA designed and fabricated a key part for a rocket engine this way, according to a Fox News science report, shaving six months and 70 percent off the cost of production.

For the home user, evidence of the imaginations of early adopters can be found on http://www.thingiverse.com.

Vistage speaker David Houle makes a career out of predicting, warning and extolling the potential possibilities future changes can create, giving members who pay attention an advantage over competitors who could be left behind if they don’t manage change correctly.

Here’s my Q&A with Houle about 3-D printing:

Q –  I think 3-D printing could be a huge disruptor. Do you?

A – Yes I do, but it is part of a much larger issue, which is the complete redefinition of the word manufacturing.  It is the lead story of the change in manufacturing from mass to custom.  I have spoken of this to Vistage members years ago.

Q – Who will be most impacted? What should vistage companies be doing to embrace or prepare for changes brought by this technology?

A – Manufacturing was largely defined by Henry Ford 100 years ago and manufacturing has been about mass, scale and volume ever since.  3-D printing is the beginning of the redefinition of manufacturing from mass to custom in the 21st century.  There will still be a need for mass manufacturing, but increasingly custom manufacturing will, due to transformative technologies, allow custom, one off production to rival the cost of mass production.

 

The United States, given that it is the most innovative and entrepreneurial country in the world can now take the lead in 21st century manufacturing.  Custom, high quality products produced close to the end user, which eliminates the need for costly long distance shipping from China, will allow Vistage members who are in the manufacturing business to bring their supply chain back to this country.

 

Disruptor is an understatement.

Most impacted?  Manufacturing companies that don’t think they need to innovate.  China and other low production cost countries that supply the United States.

Vistage companies in the manufacturing sector should have the right person in their organization consider buying a 3-D printer or perhaps first have a custom part made by a 3-D printing company and compare the cost and the quality.

 

This technology, as most, will become ever less expensive and with ever greater quality, range, power and efficiency.  Those in the manufacturing sector who do not think 3-D printing and the custom manufacturing business it is introducing into the market is important risk going out of business by 2020.  

Futurist David Houle talks about what’s around the corner.

If you’re an employer, here’s a suggestion. Ask around and find out what the awareness level is on your staff of 3-D printing.  Find out who would be interested in looking into ways your company might be impacted. How will it impact your vendors? Clients? The economy? The country? The world? Brainstorm to the possibilities. What would be a best-case scenario for your business? Worst case? What can you do to get ahead of your competitors?

So, what is 3-D printing? Lisa Harouni gives a Ted Talk primer. 

Once a month our members come together to work ‘on’ the business, not ‘in’ the business; one of the many reasons Vistage works.