CIOs Need to Start Planning Now for Challenges that 3D Printing Will Introduce into the Enterprise M

Source: http://inside3dprinting.com/

(WSJ Blog) — 3D printing is being used to mass produce commercially viable, finished industrial and medical products, but only for a relatively select set of use cases, such as hearing aid shells, foot orthotics, and some aviation components. The use of 3D printers for mass producing many finished goods — such as cars, car parts, or luxury goods — may still be anywhere from two to five years away due to factors currently limiting enterprise adoption of 3D printing, according to Duncan Stewart, director of technology, media and telecommunications research for Deloitte Canada. High-volume, low-value consumer goods like screws or paper clips may never be made with 3D printers.

The constrained growth of the enterprise market for 3D printing bodes well for manufacturing CIOs, as it gives them time to address security and data management challenges experts say 3D printing is likely to introduce. “Regardless of whether you have 12 months or two or more years, the time to start planning is now, as this technology is expected to only improve,” said Stewart. “Those CIOs who address the IT and security implications of 3D printing with a greater sense of urgency may better position their enterprises to take advantage of the technology and obtain an edge over competitors."