Table 1.

Traditional supply chain versus AM alternative.

Traditional Supply Chain	AM Impacted Supply Chain
Push supply chain	Pull supply chain
Long lead times	Shorter manufacturing lead time
High transport costs	Reduced transportation cost
Complex distribution networks	Reduced inventory
Dependency on economies of scale	Dependency on economies of scope
Lengthy response to customer demand	Quick response to customer demand
Challenging management of demand uncertainty	Easier management of demand uncertainty
High level of required inventory	Reduction in required inventory
Manufacturig far away from point of use	Manufacturing closer to point of use
Using intermediaries in the global supply chains	Supply chain disintermediation
Supply chain disruptions-broken machines, regional turmoil, or shipping delays	Hedge against disruptions