Make or Buy: Case Study of 3D Printing Spare Parts Adoption

3d printing technology open up possibility of manufacturing industry to make own spare parts for machinery instead procure to vendors. Limitation of 3d printed spare parts mostly on physical characteristics have to get attention and assessment of spare parts that can be printed are presented. In this paper also discussed factor-factor as framework to help make decision on should a company make 3d print parts or buying from vendors. Case study on three companies at textiles, pharmaceuticals and machining sectors found that adoption of 3d print technology to make spare parts for their operation is inevitable as long as low volume and frequency and at cost 40-60% of buying products. Major risk that face using 3d print are reliability and quality products at initial period adoption, and eventualy will decrease as gaining more knowledge on implementation time.