How 3D Printing Technology and Leadership Is Affecting You

Since Leadership is about influencing a group of people to pursue and achieve a common goal then technologies that will influence a large group of people to pursue a common interest will be a great asset for leaders. 

The impact of 3D Printing technology is being felt by the general public as it uses and applications to high-end industries keep growing at a geometric proportion. The development of 3D Printing Technology can be traced back to the 1980s but it is now more popular mainly because the process cost has reached an affordable level.

Did you know that the world’s fastest resin-based 3D printer can create a plastic structure as

large as a person in hours.

Did you also know that at 31 feet tall and 6,900 square feet, a new building in Dubai is the largest 3D-printed building made by Apis Cor, who built the structure using only three workers and one 3D printer.

There are several impacts and I will be discuss six possible ways it will change the way we live, work and interact with our fellow human beings.

- Localization Of Production

Several companies are already outsourcing labour to reduce cost of production, companies like Apple, Microsoft, etc but all this will change as 3D Printing becomes cheaper, thus enabling companies to manufacture their product at home with less labour force. This will without a doubt affect countries that depends on labour outsourcing to increase their GDP, example of such countries is China.

- Disruptive Change In The Medical Field

Several years ago, it use to cost a fortune to make a prosthetic for an amputee but with 3D Printing Technology, it now cost less than $100 to make a prosthetic for an amputee and the cost is getting cheaper by the day.

Did you know that bio-printing is a 3D Printing Technology which uses ink made of human-cells and tissue. By 2025, It is estimated by medical experts and professional that 3D Printing(bio-printing) will be in in full use.

Did you know that in 2014, the bones and cartilage of an accident victim was re[paired using 3D printing?

- A New Surge Of Creative Renaissance

As the 3D printing technology gets cheaper by the day, there will be surge of creative renaissance by millennials and younger generations. The technology is already used in prosthetic and designs of prototypes. There will be variety in 3D product designs as newer generations key into the 3D Printing Technology.

- A Possible Solution To Housing Crises

With the high cost of housing, and the inability to secure or build a house in the West, people are looking to 3D Printing technology for solutions. A 31 feet tall and 6,900 square feet new building in Dubai is the largest 3D-printed building made by Apis Cor, who built the structure using only three workers and one 3D printer. As the technology becomes cheaper by the day, this may be a possible solution to housing deficiency in developing countries and even developed nations.

A company in China is already doing that using recycled materials. Their process uses “ink” made from fiberglass, steel, cement, binder and recycled rubble.

- A New Kind Of Crime

With the emergence of 3D Printing Technology, and its high reduction of cost, the level of piracy will be on an unprecedented high, imagine printing your own Iphone with a 3D Printer, if that does not scare you, then this will, how about printing your own gun in your room, how about your own drugs, like crack, cocaine, heroine and LSD, these are just a tip of the iceberg. Although some develop authorities are already thinking in that regard, but what about black market sales and third world countries?

- Cut-down On Global Warming

Traditional manufacturing and recycling, burning of fossil fuels are the proponents and ingredients for global warming, and all this will be reduced as 3D Printing Technology application increases across the globe. First the cost of transportation of heavy products across the sea will be reduced as manufacturing companies will be localized, and the fossil fuel usage will be reduced.

Instead of recycling, the 3D Printing which uses less energy than recycling will drastically reduce if not eradicate recycling.

This and many more will without a doubt impact the globe and the humans in it, that includes you and me.

Snippet From Leadership Today 

Omasanjuwa Ogharandukun