By Jay Dinsmore, ADDMAN

For years, additive manufacturing (AM) was viewed as an emerging technology—primarily used for R&D, rapid prototyping, or niche applications with complex geometries. It always seemed like a technology of the future, not one ready for large-scale adoption. But that future has arrived. AM is no longer just about intricate designs; it’s tackling some of the biggest challenges in manufacturing, from supply chain disruptions and speed-to-market pressures to sustainability goals and next-generation performance demands.

Companies leading industrial innovation aren’t adopting AM for the sake of using cutting edge technology. They’re using it to deliver measurable impact to the bottom line—things like making operations more resilient, reducing costs, or unlocking new levels of performance.

Reshaping Supply Chains

For decades, manufacturing supply chains have prioritized efficiency over resilience. This focus on cost reduction and just-in-time logistics has led to a globally interconnected but fragile system, where disruptions like geopolitical instability, natural disasters, or raw material shortages can bring production to a standstill for months.

Companies aren’t turning to AM because they want another way to produce parts. They’re using it to create more flexible, resilient supply chains—where production happens closer to where parts are needed, lead times drop from months to days, and excess inventory becomes a thing of the past.

Take aerospace, for example. One leading company was facing an 18-month wait for a high-temperature nozzle that was critical to an engine test. By switching production to AM, they cut that lead time down to just six weeks. But the biggest benefit wasn’t just speed—it was taking back control of production, reducing reliance on external suppliers, and protecting their proprietary designs.

The Shift from Capability to Competitive Advantage

Technology adoption tends to follow a pattern. In the early stages, the focus is on what the technology can do, how fast it prints, what materials it can use, and how complex the designs can be. But as AM matures, the conversation is shifting from capability to necessity. The most forward-thinking manufacturers aren’t asking whether AM can produce a part; they’re asking what critical business challenge it is solving.

This shift demands a new way of thinking. Instead of focusing on what AM is capable of, companies need to start with the problem they are solving and work backward. That’s precisely how the team at ADDMAN tackles its customers’ toughest problems. The real questions to ask are:

• What performance requirements must this component meet that traditional processes can’t deliver?
• How does AM eliminate limitations in efficiency, durability, or scalability?

• Where does AM open up new opportunities—whether in design, supply chain flexibility, or overall product lifecycle?

For those who approach AM with this mindset, it stops being just an alternative manufacturing method. And becomes a strategic advantage—one that accelerates time-to-market and makes it possible to create products that traditional manufacturing methods could never achieve.

From Early Adoption to Industry Standard

Five years ago, AM was still seen as an experimental technology. Five years from now, it will be the standard for manufacturing complex, high-performance components.

The companies leading today aren’t treating AM as a niche capability. They are embedding it into broader manufacturing strategies, combining it with CNC machining, injection molding, and other production methods to build more flexible, efficient production systems.

At ADDMAN, we don’t push AM as a standalone technology. We help companies apply it where it creates measurable impact—whether that’s improving supply chain stability, optimizing production, or engineering breakthroughs that redefine industries.

AM isn’t the future of manufacturing. It’s already reshaping how the world builds.

The real question is: Who will take advantage of it—and who will be left behind?

About Jay Dinsmore
Jay Dinsmore is an Executive Vice President at ADDMAN and former CEO of Dinsmore Inc. With over 30 years of experience in additive manufacturing, Jay helps small and mid-sized manufacturers apply additive technology where it truly delivers business value. ADDMAN Group will be exhibiting at RAPID + TCT 2025, Booth 2748.