Technology continues to influence the manufacturing sector with 3D printing taking over more and more of the part-production sector. As 3D printing technology drops in price, U.S. manufacturers are looking for new ways to use 3D printers for more versatile manufacturing methods with lower labor costs. The future of manufacturing education needs to meld technology with more traditional assembly-line manufacturing methods to prepare workers for the technology-rich manufacturing environment of the future.
Three-dimensional printers work by taking raw materials and layering them to create a 3D object. Engineers design the products to be printed, and computer-aided design programs convert the design to coding. The coding directs the 3D printers during the printing process. In the past, printers were primarily used for making prototypes or printing parts that could not be made with more traditional methods. As the technology advances, printers are only limited by the materials they are designed to use, the quality of the design program and the speed at which they function. Increasing the speed and versatility of 3D printing technology are primary goals for manufacturers, and continual progress toward these goals is fueling growth in the U.S. manufacturing sector.
As 3D printing becomes more common, a merge of manufacturing and technology education is necessary to provide the skilled workers needed at all levels. At the top of the field, manufacturing engineers need to be well versed in the latest technology to further develop faster 3D printing units at a lower cost. Integrating the use and study of 3D printers into undergraduate college programs allows graduate students to focus on uses and advancement in the technology.
Being comfortable with the use of 3D printing technology is important for future manufacturing workers. To this end, 3D printing labs—complete with printers and computers equipped with computer-aided-design tools—are becoming more common in schools at all levels. Students use the printers for grade-appropriate projects across the curriculum. In addition to developing skills with the technology, these projects increase critical thinking skills and creativity. Students enjoy using the printers, and that increases involvement in the learning process and the retention of information.
To prepare for the future, manufacturers need to look for employees with an aptitude for technology and a familiarity with 3D printers. Job seekers can improve their marketability through technology courses that emphasize 3D printing and computer-aided design. Check out career centers, libraries and community colleges to find courses in manufacturing technology that include a 3D printing component.
The future of the U.S. manufacturing industry is tightly connected to the future of 3D printing. This technology allows U.S. manufacturers to reduce labor costs, which is necessary to compete with manufacturing facilities located in other countries. Manufacturing education is growing to include the study of 3D printing technology to provide future manufacturing workers with the skills necessary to compete in the worldwide arena.
(Photo courtesy of Stuart Miles / freedigitalphotos.net)
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