Exploring Application Fields of Additive Manufacturing Along the Product Life Cycle

Additive Manufacturing (AM) is a technology with increasing awareness within industrial production. Whereas rapid manufacturing and rapid prototyping are well known fields of application, AM-based spare part production or AM-based co-creation have a rather visionary character. Nevertheless, companies have started using AM along the product life cycle from the generation of a product idea, through series production to the supply of spare parts. The findings of the explorative study offer insights into existing and emerging AM-based application fields. Moreover, it gives an overview about the benefits and challenges of implementing those into existing structures in companies in the industrial sector. It is apparent that AM is a complementary manufacturing technology in industrial production. However, the results of this exploration show that uncertencies remain in emerging application fields. (C) 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.