Visiting GE Additive
For the 2019 Summer MBA Program, our first company visit was to GE Additive in Munich. While I knew GE had an extensive product line (aircraft engines, medical imaging equipment, home appliances, etc.), I was not aware of what was manufactured by GE Additive. I soon learned that additive manufacturing is colloquially known as “3-D printing” to most people. Addi-tive manufacturing is the preferred term as “3-D printing” implies the process is as simple as printing a term paper.
Meeting Our Host at GE Additive
Our host, Christian, gave us a brief overview of the process and applications of additive manu-facturing. The process can be used in such diverse fields as aviation and healthcare. Someone who is working to restore a World War II P-51 Mustang airplane can use additive manufacturing processes to recreate engine parts no longer available to original specifications. Surgeons can use the process to manufacture joint replacements (hips, shoulders) or customize titanium plates for those who have undergone brain surgery.
After a 20 minute discussion, we split into two groups and had an opportunity to see and touch several items that had been produced via additive manufacturing. This was my favorite part of the visit as we had opportunities to ask questions about the manufacturing and potential real world applications of the additive manufacturing process.
How does Additive Manufacturing Work?
GE Additive uses powder based techniques. Either a laser or an electron beam is applied to metal powder (such as titanium or aluminum) depending on the application of the resulting prod-uct. The laser or electron beam fuses the powder molecules together and layer by layer the product is formed. This can take several hours or several months depending on the complexity, size, and potential application of the product being manufactured.
How Can Additive Manufacturing Help Companies?
There is significant potential advantage to the use of additive manufacturing, including:
1. Speed up design innovation by reducing manufacturing time for new prototypes and parts
2. Increase performance of products by creating lighter, stronger, and more efficient parts
3. Reduce supply chain cost by reducing the number of assembled parts in a system
4. Simplify systems by reducing the number of parts in a system
How Can Someone Use GE’s Services?
GE Additive holds Discovery Workshops in which customers may meet with GE Additive team members to discuss ideas, potential applications, potential production problems, and potential costs. Customers typically meet with multiple members of the GE team to discuss if the additive process is appropriate for the customer’s product. As our host Christian discussed, there may be many possible different solutions for a single problem and it is important to develop a solution that is right for your business.
