Getting Past the Hype About 3-D Printing

Getting Past the Hype About 3-D Printing Description

This is an MIT Sloan Management Review article. Although additive manufacturing -also known as 3-D printing -was developed back in the 1980s, lately it has become increasingly talked about as managers look for ways to improve efficiency and reduce production costs. The appeal of additive manufacturing is its potential to reduce the need for expensive materials and energy, cut lead times, and make supply chains more efficient. Despite the promise of additive manufacturing, the authors argue, near-term expectations are overblown. Based on dozens of interviews, study of the literature on the history of materials and process technologies, industry meetings, and factory visits, they have identified three myths that need to be dispelled. The first myth is that additive manufacturing will allow producers to make parts of any complexity as easily and economically as parts that are manufactured in traditional ways (in other words, that it will make complexity "free"). The second myth is that additive manufacturing will prod manufacturing to become local. And the third myth is that additive manufacturing will allow producers to replace mass manufacturing with mass customization. In the authors'view, none of these expectations is likely to be realized in the next few decades. Although the authors say that additive manufacturing will make it easier to design lighter parts with complex geometries and internal cavities, they point to important drawbacks and restrictions. Knowing the parameters of what's possible to produce requires skills that are currently scarce. There are also safety and technical issues. Some of the safety concerns stem from the fact that the technology is new. Although many people are looking for additive manufacturing to bring manufacturing closer to markets and consumers, the authors believe that this scenario has been exaggerated, largely due to economies of scale. Despite expectations that additive manufacturing will bring a decisive shift from mass manufacturing to mass customization, the likelihood that change will occur quickly is slim, the authors say. What's more, they raise questions about how flexible additive manufacturing will be. In theory, a good 3-D printer should be capable of printing a wide range of designs. In practice, though, there may be regulations (particularly in safety-critical applications) about how equipment can be configured.

Case Description Getting Past the Hype About 3-D Printing

Strategic Managment Tools Used in Case Study Analysis of Getting Past the Hype About 3-D Printing

STEP 1. Problem Identification in Getting Past the Hype About 3-D Printing case study

STEP 2. External Environment Analysis - PESTEL / PEST / STEP Analysis of Getting Past the Hype About 3-D Printing case study

STEP 3. Industry Specific / Porter Five Forces Analysis of Getting Past the Hype About 3-D Printing case study

STEP 4. Evaluating Alternatives / SWOT Analysis of Getting Past the Hype About 3-D Printing case study

STEP 5. Porter Value Chain Analysis / VRIO / VRIN Analysis Getting Past the Hype About 3-D Printing case study

STEP 6. Recommendations Getting Past the Hype About 3-D Printing case study

STEP 7. Basis of Recommendations for Getting Past the Hype About 3-D Printing case study

Case Analysis of Getting Past the Hype About 3-D Printing

Getting Past the Hype About 3-D Printing is a Harvard Business (HBR) Case Study on Technology & Operations , Texas Business School provides HBR case study assignment help for just $9. Texas Business School(TBS) case study solution is based on HBR Case Study Method framework, TBS expertise & global insights. Getting Past the Hype About 3-D Printing is designed and drafted in a manner to allow the HBR case study reader to analyze a real-world problem by putting reader into the position of the decision maker. Getting Past the Hype About 3-D Printing case study will help professionals, MBA, EMBA, and leaders to develop a broad and clear understanding of casecategory challenges. Getting Past the Hype About 3-D Printing will also provide insight into areas such as – wordlist , strategy, leadership, sales and marketing, and negotiations.

Case Study Solutions Background Work

Getting Past the Hype About 3-D Printing case study solution is focused on solving the strategic and operational challenges the protagonist of the case is facing. The challenges involve – evaluation of strategic options, key role of Technology & Operations, leadership qualities of the protagonist, and dynamics of the external environment. The challenge in front of the protagonist, of Getting Past the Hype About 3-D Printing, is to not only build a competitive position of the organization but also to sustain it over a period of time.

Strategic Management Tools Used in Case Study Solution

The Getting Past the Hype About 3-D Printing case study solution requires the MBA, EMBA, executive, professional to have a deep understanding of various strategic management tools such as SWOT Analysis, PESTEL Analysis / PEST Analysis / STEP Analysis, Porter Five Forces Analysis, Go To Market Strategy, BCG Matrix Analysis, Porter Value Chain Analysis, Ansoff Matrix Analysis, VRIO / VRIN and Marketing Mix Analysis.

Texas Business School Approach to Technology & Operations Solutions

In the Texas Business School, Getting Past the Hype About 3-D Printing case study solution – following strategic tools are used - SWOT Analysis, PESTEL Analysis / PEST Analysis / STEP Analysis, Porter Five Forces Analysis, Go To Market Strategy, BCG Matrix Analysis, Porter Value Chain Analysis, Ansoff Matrix Analysis, VRIO / VRIN and Marketing Mix Analysis.

We have additionally used the concept of supply chain management and leadership framework to build a comprehensive case study solution for the case – Getting Past the Hype About 3-D Printing

Step 1 – Problem Identification of Getting Past the Hype About 3-D Printing - Harvard Business School Case Study

The first step to solve HBR Getting Past the Hype About 3-D Printing case study solution is to identify the problem present in the case. The problem statement of the case is provided in the beginning of the case where the protagonist is contemplating various options in the face of numerous challenges that Additive Manufacturing is facing right now. Even though the problem statement is essentially – “Technology & Operations” challenge but it has impacted by others factors such as communication in the organization, uncertainty in the external environment, leadership in Additive Manufacturing, style of leadership and organization structure, marketing and sales, organizational behavior, strategy, internal politics, stakeholders priorities and more.

Step 2 – External Environment Analysis

Texas Business School approach of case study analysis – Conclusion, Reasons, Evidences - provides a framework to analyze every HBR case study. It requires conducting robust external environmental analysis to decipher evidences for the reasons presented in the Getting Past the Hype About 3-D Printing.

The external environment analysis of Getting Past the Hype About 3-D Printing will ensure that we are keeping a tab on the macro-environment factors that are directly and indirectly impacting the business of the firm.

What is PESTEL Analysis? Briefly Explained

PESTEL stands for political, economic, social, technological, environmental and legal factors that impact the external environment of firm in Getting Past the Hype About 3-D Printing case study. PESTEL analysis of " Getting Past the Hype About 3-D Printing" can help us understand why the organization is performing badly, what are the factors in the external environment that are impacting the performance of the organization, and how the organization can either manage or mitigate the impact of these external factors.

How to do PESTEL / PEST / STEP Analysis? What are the components of PESTEL Analysis?

As mentioned above PESTEL Analysis has six elements – political, economic, social, technological, environmental, and legal. All the six elements are explained in context with Getting Past the Hype About 3-D Printing macro-environment and how it impacts the businesses of the firm.

How to do PESTEL Analysis for Getting Past the Hype About 3-D Printing

To do comprehensive PESTEL analysis of case study – Getting Past the Hype About 3-D Printing , we have researched numerous components under the six factors of PESTEL analysis.

Political Factors that Impact Getting Past the Hype About 3-D Printing

Political factors impact seven key decision making areas – economic environment, socio-cultural environment, rate of innovation & investment in research & development, environmental laws, legal requirements, and acceptance of new technologies.

Policy Making Impact on Getting Past the Hype About 3-D Printing

Government policies have significant impact on the business environment of any country. The firm in “ Getting Past the Hype About 3-D Printing ” needs to navigate these policy decisions to create either an edge for itself or reduce the negative impact of the policy as far as possible.

Data safety laws – The countries in which Additive Manufacturing is operating, firms are required to store customer data within the premises of the country. Additive Manufacturing needs to restructure its IT policies to accommodate these changes. In the EU countries, firms are required to make special provision for privacy issues and other laws.

Competition Regulations – Numerous countries have strong competition laws both regarding the monopoly conditions and day to day fair business practices. Getting Past the Hype About 3-D Printing has numerous instances where the competition regulations aspects can be scrutinized.

Import restrictions on products – Before entering the new market, Additive Manufacturing in case study Getting Past the Hype About 3-D Printing" should look into the import restrictions that may be present in the prospective market.

Export restrictions on products – Apart from direct product export restrictions in field of technology and agriculture, a number of countries also have capital controls. Additive Manufacturing in case study “ Getting Past the Hype About 3-D Printing ” should look into these export restrictions policies.

Foreign Direct Investment Policies – Government policies favors local companies over international policies, Additive Manufacturing in case study “ Getting Past the Hype About 3-D Printing ” should understand in minute details regarding the Foreign Direct Investment policies of the prospective market.

Taxation & Regulation Impact on Getting Past the Hype About 3-D Printing

Corporate Taxes – The rate of taxes is often used by governments to lure foreign direct investments or increase domestic investment in a certain sector. Corporate taxation can be divided into two categories – taxes on profits and taxes on operations. Taxes on profits number is important for companies that already have a sustainable business model, while taxes on operations is far more significant for companies that are looking to set up new plants or operations.

Tariffs – Chekout how much tariffs the firm needs to pay in the “ Getting Past the Hype About 3-D Printing ” case study. The level of tariffs will determine the viability of the business model that the firm is contemplating. If the tariffs are high then it will be extremely difficult to compete with the local competitors. But if the tariffs are between 5-10% then Additive Manufacturing can compete against other competitors.

Government Scheme & Subsidies Impact on Getting Past the Hype About 3-D Printing

Research and Development Subsidies and Policies – Governments often provide tax breaks and other incentives for companies to innovate in various sectors of priority. Managers at Getting Past the Hype About 3-D Printing case study have to assess whether their business can benefit from such government assistance and subsidies.

Consumer protection – Different countries have different consumer protection laws. Managers need to clarify not only the consumer protection laws in advance but also legal implications if the firm fails to meet any of them.

Political System & Stability, and its Impact on Getting Past the Hype About 3-D Printing

Political System and Its Implications – Different political systems have different approach to free market and entrepreneurship. Managers need to assess these factors even before entering the market.

Freedom of Press is critical for fair trade and transparency. Countries where freedom of press is not prevalent there are high chances of both political and commercial corruption.

Corruption level – Additive Manufacturing needs to assess the level of corruptions both at the official level and at the market level, even before entering a new market. To tackle the menace of corruption – a firm should have a clear SOP that provides managers at each level what to do when they encounter instances of either systematic corruption or bureaucrats looking to take bribes from the firm.

Independence of judiciary – It is critical for fair business practices. If a country doesn’t have independent judiciary then there is no point entry into such a country for business.

Government attitude towards trade unions – Different political systems and government have different attitude towards trade unions and collective bargaining. The firm needs to assess – its comfort dealing with the unions and regulations regarding unions in a given market or industry. If both are on the same page then it makes sense to enter, otherwise it doesn’t.

Economic Factors that Impact Getting Past the Hype About 3-D Printing

Social Factors that Impact Getting Past the Hype About 3-D Printing

Technological Factors that Impact Getting Past the Hype About 3-D Printing

Environmental Factors that Impact Getting Past the Hype About 3-D Printing

Legal Factors that Impact Getting Past the Hype About 3-D Printing

Step 3 – Industry Specific Analysis

What is Porter Five Forces Analysis

PESTEL stands for political, economic, social, technological, environmental and legal factors that impact the external environment of firm in Getting Past the Hype About 3-D Printing case study. PESTEL analysis of " Getting Past the Hype About 3-D Printing" can help us understand why the organization is performing badly, what are the factors in the external environment that are impacting the performance of the organization, and how the organization can either manage or mitigate the impact of these external factors.

Step 4 – SWOT Analysis / Internal Environment Analysis

Step 5 – Porter Value Chain / VRIO / VRIN Analysis

Step 6 – Evaluating Alternatives & Recommendations

Step 7 – Basis for Recommendations

References :: Getting Past the Hype About 3-D Printing case study solution