How to integrate additive manufacturing technologies into manufacturing systems successfully: A perspective from the commercial vehicle industry

Additive Manufacturing (AM) is the umbrella term for manufacturing processes that add materials layer by layer to create parts. AM technologies show numerous potentials in terms of rapid prototyping, tooling and direct manufacturing of functional parts and imply revolutionary benefits for the manufacturing industry. Currently, many industrial areas are marching to a more comprehensive application of AM. Hence, the development of new tools, methods, and concepts for guiding companies to implement AM technologies requires more research attention. This paper introduces the results of a research project carried out by academic and industrial partners from the German commercial vehicle industry. The research project addressed four issues for a long-term application of AM technologies: identification of barriers for AM applications, cost estimation for AM application, design of hybrid additive-subtractive process chains, and quality management with AM.