3d Printing

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Industry experts, like Jim Joyce believe 3D Printing holds the answer to many of the problems within the existing healthcare supply chain. Bruce Johnson lists one of the difficulties, which plague most healthcare supply chains as the continued use of manual processes instead of automation that introduces a level of accuracy in the supply and demand area of the healthcare supply chain management. The use of automation in healthcare facilities creates an efficient environment where “suppliers, partners, and customers can form relationships with one another with each party performing a role in the supply chain” (Jasmine Pennic, 2013). According to Jim Joyce, Deloitte Consulting “the healthcare delivery systems will set up maker spaces. Maker spaces are design and print facilities which can provide on the spot manufacturing, this would radically decentralize medical manufacturing. Practitioners and hospital personnel will be able to 'print' stents, tubes, and valves for individual patients on the spot. As the cost of equipment and materials collapses, we will be going from a landscape of startups and large companies to front-line healthcare delivery providers making the devices” (Norbert Sparrow, 2015). The finding in this research paper regarding prosthetics are applicable to most medical supplies and service delivery components. As Joyce indicated, the opportunity to print medical devices within healthcare facilities will rewrite the healthcare supply chain model. It is time for the health care industry and the manufacturers of healthcare devices such as prosthetics to consider how to integrate this technology in the healthcare supply chain. 3D printing allows for improvement in their service model, moving away from the traditional “manufacturer to distributor (warehouses) to retailer (healthcare facilities) to customers model” for the delivery of prosthetic devices (Dave Hermansen, 2014). CSC’s office of innovation suggest the following changes to the supply model to accommodation 3D printing: “Printing bureaus servicing niche markets, Rising demand for powered titanium and other feed materials and Recycling used for feed materials, Off-shoring modes begin to challenged, Direct supply: Ship the design, not the product and Reorganization of business models (Vivek Srinivasan; Bassan, Jarrod;, 2012).

Conclusion

Numerous decisions and questions surround the healthcare supply chain survivals of 3D printing. Manufacturers and healthcare facilities will need to consider most of the following: “How will you keep your company’s business model relevant? What are the business implications of delivering a digital design rather than a physical product to your customers? When your customers do manufacturing instead of you, what are the implications for product quality, product safety (e.g., a product recall) and intellectual property protection? Is your company or industry susceptible to open design trends? How will you prepare for new competitors, including new entrants and DIYers? Do the current benefits of 3D printing (low cost, high customization, delivery close to point of use) challenge your existing product line? Do future areas of 3D printing research pose a threat?”(Vivek Srinivasan; Bassan, Jarrod;, 2012).

Manufacturers have the opportunity transform their role to one of consultant developing the software design for prosthetics shipped via internet service directly to the healthcare facilities’ 3D printers for onsite production. Prosthetic manufacturers unwilling to embrace the technology of 3D printing could find them shut out of the supply chain similar to the hearing aid manufacturers who ignored the impact of 3D printing on production of hearing aids.

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Reference

Dave Hermansen. (2014, December 18). Ecommerce and the supply chain. Retrieved from Store Coach: https://storecoach.com/ecommerce-supply-chain_

Jasmine Pennic. (2013, May 05). HIT Consultant. Retrieved from HIT Consultant: http://hitconsultant.net/2013/05/13/5-ways-supply-chain-can-reduce-rising-healthcare-costs/

Norbert Sparrow. (2015, April 24). Medical. Retrieved from Plastics Today: http://www.plasticstoday.com/articles/How-3D-printing-will-shatter-medtech-supply-chain-150424

Vernasco, L. (2014, December 14). Simply Amazing. Retrieved from The Daily Beast: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/12/10/3-d-printing-is-changing-the-future-of-prosthetics.html

Victoria Fraza Kickman and Joe Nowlan. (2014, August 14). Global Purchasing. Retrieved from Global Purchasing: http://globalpurchasing.com/orint/features/suppy-chain-improves-damaged-lives

Vivek Srinivasan; Bassan, Jarrod;. (2012, Fall). Retrieved from Lef: https://www.nr.edu/cadd/pdf/2014/3dprinting.pdf

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