High-Efficiency Lean Methods in Metal AM: Reducing Costs, Lead Times & Process Variability

In the evolving landscape of metal additive manufacturing, achieving both operational efficiency and scalability has often posed significant challenges due to the inherently batch-driven nature of 3D printing processes. This presentation introduces a groundbreaking approach developed at Magnitude, where lean manufacturing principles are applied to metal 3D printing to drive transformative improvements in lead time, on-time delivery, and cost reduction.

This session will detail proprietary methodologies that streamline production workflows, reducing lead times to six weeks or less and ensuring over 98% on-time delivery—metrics that directly enhance profitability and scalability. Attendees will explore techniques to balance workload across production stations, implement robust production rules, and achieve operational consistency even amidst resource fluctuations, such as workforce absenteeism or equipment downtime.

We will draw on two case studies of different customers focused on aerospace and medical applications to demonstrate how this can be applied in any Additive Manufacturing environment followed by a Q&A for any specific challenges that the audience may be facing.

This talk is ideal for engineers, production managers, and lean practitioners seeking to harness the full potential of 3D metal printing technology, paving the way for a scalable, resilient, and cost-efficient production model in additive manufacturing.