The manufacturing industry is no stranger to supply chain disruptions. The fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic is still fresh in most of our minds, and since then, supply chains have been impacted by natural disasters, shipping lane threats, and tariffs.

It’s critical to be prepared for supply chain disruptions and to be able to pivot quickly to keep production rolling. That’s where 3D printing can serve as a lifeboat within choppy global supply chain waters.

At 3D Parts Unlimited, our Wisconsin manufacturing facility is home to a wide range of industrial 3D printing technologies suitable for rapid prototyping or manufacturing end-use parts. We offer a versatile range of 3D printing materials ideal for numerous applications, and our materials suppliers are well-stocked and prepared in the case of any future disruptions. 

So don’t wait until it’s too late and you’re scrambling for the parts you need — now is the time to discover how you can mitigate manufacturing supply chain disruptions with 3D printing and our additive manufacturing services at 3D Parts Unlimited.

Domestic 3D Printing Means No Tariffs, No Delays

When manufacturing supply chain disruptions occur, international trade and logistics become challenging to navigate. Lead times get longer, shipments are delayed, and factors like rapid tariff rate increases can significantly add to complexity and cost. 

In these scenarios, 3D printing is an excellent alternative to international contract manufacturing, providing an effective way to quickly manufacture the parts you need closer to home. With US-based 3D printing services like 3D Parts Unlimited, not only can you avoid extended lead times and potential customs or shipping delays, but you remove tariffs from the equation, as well. 

3D Printing Services Offer Incredibly Short Lead Times 

When you order parts and products from international suppliers, you’re often dealing with longer lead times that can range from a few weeks to a month or more. But when manufacturing supply chain disruptions occur, the international lead times that were once weeks can quickly turn into months.

However, rapid manufacturing is exactly where 3D printing shines. By working with a reliable 3D printing partner, you can leverage their expertise and the inherently fast additive manufacturing process to manufacture custom parts with incredibly short lead times.

For example, at 3D Parts Unlimited, our additive manufacturing services have a standard lead time of five to seven days. In some cases, we can even expedite your order, allowing you to get parts and products even faster when you need them most.

Adapt to Changing Consumer Demands

Not only is 3D printing a great solution for overcoming manufacturing supply chain disruptions, but its fast lead times and design flexibility allow you to quickly adapt to changing market needs. 

After all, the events accompanying these disruptions often drastically alter demand for certain products—consider, for instance, the massive surge in demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

It is difficult to remain agile when you rely solely on traditional manufacturing methods. In injection molding, for instance, the high cost of manufacturing a mold, minimum order quantities (MOQs), and long lead times can all be prohibitive when manufacturing low- to mid-volume parts runs or bringing a new product to market. 

By leveraging 3D printing, you’ll be ready to quickly meet customers’ needs while other manufacturers are still waiting for parts to be delivered.

3 Steps to Start Preparing Your Operation

Companies large and small across all industries now recognize the benefits of 3D printing, and this once-niche technique has transformed into a fully capable manufacturing solution. While understanding how to fully leverage 3D printing to manufacture high-quality end-use parts may seem like a challenging task, here are a few things you can do to get started today:

• Familiarize yourself with 3D printing processes like HP Multi Jet Fusion (MJF), Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), Stereolithography (SLA), and Direct Light Printing (DLP).
• Start small by producing 3D-printed fixtures or jigs to use on the shop floor.
• Experiment to determine which process best suits your needs — try using 3D printing to manufacture a part you would typically produce through injection molding.

Whether you want to be prepared for the next major supply chain disruption or you’re just ready to shorten your lead times, 3D Parts Unlimited can be the US-based 3D printing partner you need through thick and thin.

Discover how our comprehensive additive manufacturing services can help you build a more secure and stable supply chain and request a quote today.