3D printing, sometimes known as additive manufacturing undoubtedly will result in loss of jobs but it could have other benefits: things do not have to be shipped from distant manufacturing sites to the places where such things are needed. Buyers and users do not have to wait a long time for the shipments to arrive, which fact can reduce shipping costs, waiting times, etc., and hence reduce costs of the part and perhaps the final product that needs the 3D-printed part. That said, not everything can be 3D-printed -- it will depend upon the material needed for the printing and the type of 3D printers available. If 3D printing is adopted in developing countries, prospects for jobs will decrease.

We can view 3D printing and its consequences in similar fashion to letters; letters have to be written and they take time to arrive but email and messaging systems provide almost instant delivery with the result postal services are declining. Or why not see it through the lens of e-Commerce? Shops here in The Netherlands are disappearing as more people buy over the Internet and thus shop assistants have less job opportunities. Towns centres are losing their charm as more people stay away... soon we might have what I hesitatingly call "ghost towns" in many countries.

The march of technology continues inexorably, whether we wish it or not.

Let us not forget chatbots, cobots, smartbots and robots -- they too are already taking away jobs. Warehouses are using pick-up systems which move around and pick up orders for outward shipments - they also place incoming shipments in the correct shelf locations.

Autonomous vehicles will also impact taxis, parking lots. And what about drones, and "fighting" machines? Your guess is as good as mine.

its a whao! invention.....Anyway,everything have its merits and demerits

Scientific development does not take this into account

We are waiting for experts to find practical solutions for this problem.

Regards

I do not think there will be an imbalance in the labor market because of this industry. With the growth of the industry, demand is expected to increase dramatically for anyone with some expertise in 3D printing, "experience is far more important." , and for that reason these skills are of great relevance, especially in the areas of development and design.

Therefore, all relevant employees must participate in qualifying courses to enter this field.

3D printing, sometimes known as additive manufacturing undoubtedly will result in loss of jobs but it could have other benefits: things do not have to be shipped from distant manufacturing sites to the places where such things are needed. Buyers and users do not have to wait a long time for the shipments to arrive, which fact can reduce shipping costs, waiting times, etc., and hence reduce costs of the part and perhaps the final product that needs the 3D-printed part. That said, not everything can be 3D-printed -- it will depend upon the material needed for the printing and the type of 3D printers available. If 3D printing is adopted in developing countries, prospects for jobs will decrease.

We can view 3D printing and its consequences in similar fashion to letters; letters have to be written and they take time to arrive but email and messaging systems provide almost instant delivery with the result postal services are declining. Or why not see it through the lens of e-Commerce? Shops here in The Netherlands are disappearing as more people buy over the Internet and thus shop assistants have less job opportunities. Towns centres are losing their charm as more people stay away... soon we might have what I hesitatingly call "ghost towns" in many countries.

The march of technology continues inexorably, whether we wish it or not.

Let us not forget chatbots, cobots, smartbots and robots -- they too are already taking away jobs. Warehouses are using pick-up systems which move around and pick up orders for outward shipments - they also place incoming shipments in the correct shelf locations.

Autonomous vehicles will also impact taxis, parking lots. And what about drones, and "fighting" machines? Your guess is as good as mine.

I think the jobless in this regard must take good advantage of technology and learn new workable skills to keep themselves in business.

The world is dynamic and no one therefore can remain static. Change is the fundamental principle of the earth and those who do not change with the Innovation can not survive. As has been stated by Dr Isam and Dickson they must adopt the new skills and very rightly Dr Phil has explained the merits of 3D Printing.

For illustration, a person who retired before 10 years had never used Computer but today he is master even at the age of 75. This is because he has adopted the new technology. (new for him!!)

I agree with Dr.Dickson Adom

I agree with the answer of Dr Sheth Sir

Trade offs !!!!

Fine assembly and precision with different types of parts and materials .

So far I haven't come across metal+ polymer 3D printers .

Cost effectiveness and lotzzzz of refinement yet to come !!

Like all innovation, automation avenues do have trade-offs and will inevitably affect the labour market, it will probably hit informally educated professionals who cannot enter other segments of the industry.

Technology was always the source of some form of trade off for any industry, it is meant to provide automation at the cost of labour resources, while it may be desirable for the business owners, it is not so desirable for those directly affected, however, at the overall scheme of things, it is a necessary driver of evolutionary growth - you need people designing, manufacturing and formulating printing schemes more than artisans, it's progress. People will have to evolve.

You cannot stop progress, for an idea whose time has come, you either flow with it, or be left behind or be swept away. 3D printing is the future, professionals will need to keep up, service these printers, offer services (such as working with CAD software) or manufacture components to make the technology more affordable. They can still be involved, do the same things but for a different purpose.

Hope this helps.

It is really a problem ... hope to hear some real solutions

The solution is simply that - people have to keep up! If machines come in, you still need people to fix and make these machines!! So, people have to adapt and survive! Education - training - proper management of your careers?

continuos with the life

Following

In response to Mr Murthy's comment, there is a polymer called polyether etherketone (PEEK) which offers some of the benefits of metals without the associated weight of metals. It was introduced by a daughter company of now defunct UK company called Imperial Chemical Industries. See www.uplandfab.com/peek-machining

I do not know if people will lose their jobs, there will be new opportunities, new challenges and new jobs.

The demise of jobs is based on the premise that AM will replace large parts of "traditional" manufacturing, which I do not see at this moment and the foreseeable future. AM is a very good technology to manufacture small quantity objects, with high requirements for individualised topology and structure. AM does not scale well to mass produced items due to the fact that the manufacturing time is longer than in mass production and therefore the price is higher. Also AM is not (yet) able to produce highly integrated components.

In contrast to many futuristic depictions, e.g., getting your toothbrush from your 3D printer at home, I doubt there is a possibility and demand for this.