3D Printing in the Education Industry - Essay Example

BUSINESS Name: Tutor: University: 3D Printing in the Education Industry Introduction 3D printing is a process that allows users to make three-dimensional solid objects from a digital file stored in a computer (Fleming, 2012 pg. 1). The technology provides the user with an opportunity to customize the output and unlike music and movies, every product of 3D printing has a copyright protection. One of the major advantages of the technology is that it provides customers with constant dynamic culture. Furthermore, 3D printing is achieved through the processes of addition, that is, the final output results from arranging layers of the materials until the object is complete (Fleming, 2012 pg. 3-4). The technology will have a significant impact on the education industry hence, individual companies should implement it to gain a competitive advantage over the others. 3D printing functions with a computer software using the Computer Aided Design (CAD) virtual design. All objects from toys, dresses to firearms can be manufactured through such additional processes as Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) and Stereolithography (SLA) (Fleming, 2012 pg.4). Regardless whether the material is metal or plastic, the same procedures apply as long as one selects the preferred design on the computer. Research in the past two years also suggests that the technology can be utilized when performing organ transplants; hence it may turn out to be a life-saving technology (Fleming, 2012 pg.13). In summary, 3D printing offers hope in the field of research and development and also in the achievement of theorized possibilities of science. In this research paper, I will describe the use of 3D printing by international education organizations to gain competitive advantage. The revolution of 3D printing Three-dimensional printing provides numerous ways in which modern technology can be utilized. Educational institutions, organizations and hobbyists are beginning to comprehend some benefits that accompany the new technology. 3D printing has provided and will continue to provide a means for visionaries, innovators and inventors to construct models and samples for diverse design which they could only present in diagrams and drawings in the past. Some of the academic institutions that have incorporated the technology in their studies include Harvard, Connecticut University, Penn state University among others. The technology will help in the implementation of new inventions since inventors have a manner of testing their ideas on tangible prototypes and models. 3D printing and international education organizations In educational institutions, three-dimensional printing is likely to have a significant effect as it provides many opportunities in the diverse fields of education such as mathematics, geology and history. These benefits will range from elementary schools to universities in all regions of the world. Most recent research indicates that it is the lack of knowledge concerning 3D printing by decision makers that have made the impact of the technology on education quite slow. Given that the technology is new, a huge effect will be achieved through the introduction of the technology in both private grade and public schools. Over the years, it is believed that the younger an individual is, the easier the ability to internalize new technologies and ideas. Therefore, elementary schools together with high schools provide the perfect level for the introduction of a curriculum that is based on 3D printing. Multinational companies that provide education services should, therefore, make efforts to incorporate three-dimensional printing in their operations to gain a competitive advantage over other academic institutions. For instance, the technology provides the learners with a practical view of mathematical and geological problems hence they are more likely to excel that those relying on diagrams and illustrations in textbooks. Use of 3D printing in educational activities The technology will provide new benefits that will significantly revolutionize education (3D Printer, 2016 1). The issue if relevant especially to companies that provide private education institutions since it may help them gain competitive advantage. Three-dimensional printing will enable educators as well as their students to develop skills in the technology hence enabling them to welcome the changes in diverse industries. 3D printing will equip learners with the skills to enter and adapt to the rapidly changing technology. Many areas in curriculum systems require learners to think critically, solve problems and even design products. The technology will make it easy for the students to test the ergonomic, functional and aesthetic properties of these designs with solid objects rather than the virtual models (Krassenstein, 2014 pg.2-3). A real-life example of an academic institution that is using the three-dimensional technology is Cornell Creative Machines Lab. The institution is mostly involved in the research in the fields of additive manufacturing such as bio-printing and construction prototyping (Phillips, 2014). The use of 3D printers in such an institution will make learning as well as practical activities faster and more efficient. Further, the technology will serve numerous purposes in the education industry. First, it will help to conceptualize designs that are in the development stage such as ergonomics and aesthetics. Second, 3D printing will be useful in the testing of design ideas before they are manufactured. The technology will also minimize the costs of advancing designs since it will be carried out on the models rather than the actual objects. The printing technology will also help students to produce and present final designs to teachers and lecturers before the actual projects. Lastly, the making of products used in education will be faster and cheaper with the three-dimensional printing technology. 3D printing will also benefit both mathematics and geography projects. In mathematics, the technology will be utilized to envision such mathematical models as graphs and curves (Krassenstein, 2014 pg.3). Most students have a difficult time grasping concepts represented by diagrams and numbers on paper hence the technology will help them to elaborate graphs, solve complex models of mathematics and envision questions. In geography, 3D printing will help learners to understand geological formations that are difficult to present in two-dimensional images. Through the technology, researchers will be able to understand the causes and effects of oil fracking better (Krassenstein, 2014 pg.3-4). 3D prints can also prove to be important when comparing the magnitudes of earthquakes. In addition, Delamare Science and Engineering library was the first institution in America to provide 3D printing and scanning to both the students and the public (Phillips, 2014). Using 3D printing to achieve Competitive Advantage Research indicates that the average lifespan of any electronic device in a competitive marketplace does not exceed six months. Research done by McKinsey and Co. shows that when a product is late by six months, it loses about thirty-three percent of its potential gross profit (Furstoss, 2015 pg.3-5). Similarly, the adoption of the technology in educational institutions depends on which company does it first for guaranteed success. These aspects put on a lot of pressure on the process of implementing the change as all competitors want to be highly efficient, fast and collaborative. In a real-life situation, a parent is likely to take his child to an institution with a history of passing exams. Similarly, the application of 3D printing in the diverse courses is likely to improve performance hence increasing the demand for such institutions. Harvard, which is one of the best academic institutions in the world, also conducts a lot of research in the field of additive manufacturing. It also holds symposiums to demonstrate the use of 3D printing where they invite speakers from companies investing in the new technology such as Pirate3D Inc. (Phillips, 2014). The managers of academic institutions should purpose to attend such events to learn the importance as well as how to utilize the technology in education. In the manufacturing industry, the decisions on critical product specifications and designs are mostly made at the conceptual stage or during the first ten percent of the design cycle (Pearce, 2013 pg.6-7). Such decisions are important as affect approximately eighty percent of the total cost of the product through the establishment of manufacturing techniques and material selection. The manufacturers should note that they should arrive at these decisions only after a critical evaluation of the different concepts of the designs during the beginning stages. Furthermore, creating a unique design is likely to face lesser competition especially due to copyright protection. The technology will also provide the education industry with firsthand input that is based on functional ABS parts. The management, engineering design teams, purchasing, marketing and manufacturing teams are likely to handle competition when they produce the outputs of 3D printing. When Nanyang Technological University initiated its 3D printing center for twenty-four million dollars, the finance manager explained that three-dimensional printing provides the company with a cost-effective method of producing many designs within a short time (Phillips, 2014). The production, also, provides the manufacturers with immediate feedback concerning the designs since mistakes are noted at the beginning stages of the process of development (Furstoss, 2015 pg.5). This ability of refining designs can significantly reduce the costs of production as well as the time of marketing. In summary, companies in the education industry can seize competitive advantage using 3D printing in a diverse number of ways from improving performance to a cheaper form of education. Feasibilities of implementing 3D printing Operational feasibility In the education industry, the end-users of 3D printing are the students. From the analysis of the impacts of the technology on education above, it is clear that it provides solutions to many academic problems. The technology will work in the industry especially due to the high demand for these products. When implementing, the management and owners of the companies have the duty of funding the technology. Educators, on the other hand, should advise them concerning the required designs. There is also likely to be a resistance concerning the use of technology in education especially due to the high costs of acquiring the manufacturing resources. Economic feasibility The cost of acquiring 3D printers can be high especially if the company intends to produce on a large scale. However, the benefits of the printers outweigh the acquisition costs (Pearce, 2013 pg.9). For instance, 3D printing in educational institutions is likely to improve performance hence consequently increasing its demand. The cost benefits in the long-run are numerous Technical feasibility Implementing 3D printing requires a lot of expertise to operate the machines and technicians to troubleshoot them in the case of failure. The 3D printing project in education requires a lot of evaluation to determine whether the institutions will be able to accommodate the new technology. The printers are also large hence the institution should have plenty of room to store them. Furthermore, complementing resources such as electricity and ink should also be readily available. Human factor feasibility Given that the project involves a new technology, the manpower to handle the printing machines may be limited. Although the implementation of the project may be difficult at the beginning stages, employees will get used to using the machines in their educational activities. Therefore, the companies should create programs to train employees such as educators and technicians concerning their use. Legal Feasibility Given that three-dimensional printing can bring about industrial, social and economic changes, the phenomenon is likely to be accompanied by legal challenges (Wilkof, 2015 pg.2). In both the manufacturing and the educational industries, improvements in 3D scanners and printers will bring patent issues hence the organizations should be careful when implementing the changes. The companies should take note of the printer and material manufacturers as well as the developers and aggregators of digital files. They should also aim at creating products that are genuine to avoid legal complications. Furthermore, customers are more likely to prefer unique products (Wilkof, 2015 pg.6). Bibliography 3D Printer. (2016). 3D Printing Industry Examples and Case Studies. [Online] Available at http://www.javelin-tech.com/3d-printer/industry/ [Accessed 28 Mar. 2016]. Fleming, M. (2012). What is 3D Printing? An Overview. [Online] 3D Printer. Available at: http://www.3dprinter.net/reference/what-is-3d-printing/ [Accessed 28 Mar. 2016]. Furstoss, C. (2015). Seizing competitive advantage with 3-D printing. [Online] PwC. Available at: http://www.pwc.com/us/en/technology-forecast/2014/3d-printing/interviews/christine-furstoss-interview.html [Accessed 28 Mar. 2016]. Krassenstein, E. (2014). Why 3D Printing Needs to Take Off in Schools Around the World. [Online] 3DPrint.com. Available at: http://3dprint.com/27743/3d-printing-benefits-schools/ [Accessed 28 Mar. 2016]. Pearce, J. (2013). Life-Cycle Economic Analysis of Distributed Manufacturing with Open-Source 3-D Printers. [Online] Academia.edu. Available at: http://www.academia.edu/4067796/Life-Cycle_Economic_Analysis_of_Distributed_Manufacturing_with_Open-Source_3-D_Printers/ [Accessed 28 Mar. 2016]. Wilkof, N. (2015). Understanding the Legal and IP Issues in 3D Printing – Trade Marks. [Online] The IPA Beacon. Available at: https://www.theipabeacon.com.sg/understanding-the-legal-and-ip-issues-in-3d-printing-trade-marks/ [Accessed 28 Mar. 2016]. Phillips, S. (2014). 13 Universities Investing Heavily in 3D Printing | Inside3DP. [Online] inside3dp. Available at: http://www.inside3dp.com/13-universities-investing-heavily-3d-printing/ [Accessed 1 Apr. 2016]. Read More