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dditive manufacturing (AM) and 3D printing technology are moving beyond their decadeslong role as a prototyping tool, to a legitimate, holy grail manufacturing sector in solving supply chain crises and disruption. Not only has AM emerged as an integral part of modern manufacturing because of its unique, rapid manufacturing capabilities in various sectors, but the AM industry itself has made significant strides over the past few years to become more industrialized as evident in the existing use cases of AM technology—from airplanes to medical applications like hip and knee replacements, and to a lesser extent, custom automobiles. By adopting AM, the manufacturing industry has saved millions of dollars in production costs while building stronger businesses that can withstand an even a once-in-a-century crisis such as COVID-19. ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING AS A NATIONAL STRATEGY The White House administration has created more opportunities for small and medium-sized manufacturers to become suppliers for the federal government, furthering the mission of ensuring future products will be made by American manufacturers. This priority by the administration was exemplified when President Biden signed a "Made in America" Executive Order (EO) in late January to direct more spending of the federal government’s 600 billion USD procurement budget on American-made products— rethinking the existing regulatory framework. By narrowing the loopholes that allow government purchases of foreign products, increasing agency accountability, and directing agencies to seek out US suppliers, this Build Back Better Recovery Plan is set to invest in American workers, unions and businesses up and down the supply chain to revitalize American manufacturing and secure a “Made in America” future. Another effort underscoring the emerging importance of 3D printing technology, was the Department of Defense releasing its first-ever Additive Manufacturing Strategy to set national standards for digital manufacturing products and processes. The strategy further called out a requirement for the development of policies to integrate the use of AM into weapon systems, material readiness
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and warfighter capabilities. The DOD created the strategy with the intention on “bringing together” all stakeholders inside and outside the military in the supply chain and academia. The strategy serves as a prime example of ways in which the military is attempting to make AM easier to use, and the barriers they break down will set a tone across other industries and help to foster even bigger changes for the rest of society and the manufacturing community. COVID-19 PROMPTS EXECUTIVE ACTION FOR U.S. SUPPLY CHAINS AM’s role is paramount in reinvigorating America’s supply chain. The pandemic has revealed our nation’s untenable overdependence on external imports and that having the capacity to respond quickly in the face of challenges prompts further need for security in our supply chain to ensure our nation’s continued safety, health, and prosperity. In response to these needs, the administration released a critical executive order to secure and strengthen the supply chains vital to America’s
