Page 6 - 3D Metal Printing Spring 2017

3D EDITORIAL Gemba + Grimm =
Insider Angles on 3D Metal Printing
By Brad Kuvin
Gemba walks are a major component of the Toyota lean principles. The concept denotes managers moving out of the office and on to the front lines of manufacturing—the pro- duction floor, where, according to the rough definition of the Japanese term “gemba,” real value is created. During these gemba walks, a lot can be learned—managers can identify wasteful activities, observe machinery and equipment conditions, and ask questions. The goal is to collect data—production data, quality data, etc.—and then process that data to drive continu- ous-improvement efforts.
Here at 3D Metal Printing, I’m proud to announce that we have found our very own gemba walker—industry insider Todd Grimm. His new column, Grimm’s 3D Metal Printing Tales, debuts in this issue. For his column, Grimm will “walk around” additive-manufacturing (AM) service
© 2017 by PMA Services Inc. 6363 Oak Tree Blvd. Independence, OH 44131 216/901-8800 | fax: 216/901-9669 www.3DMPmag.com
PMA President | William E. Gaskin, CAE wgaskin@pma.org
VP, Group Publisher | Andrew Flando aflando@3DMPmag.com
Editorial Director | Brad F. Kuvin bkuvin@3DMPmag.com
Senior Editor | Louis A. Kren lkren@3DMPmag.com
Editorial Manager | Marlene F. O’Brien mobrien@3DMPmag.com
Art Director | Donna M. D’Amico ddamico@3Dmpmag.com
Web/Graphic Design | Mike Novatny mnovatny@3DMPmag.com
Production Manager | Susan Cubranich scubranich@3DMPmag.com
Circulation Manager | Melody Berendt mberendt@3DMPmag.com
Circulation Assistant | Terri Reid treid@3DMPmag.com
Sales and Marketing Staff
Andrew Flando | VP, Group Publisher
216/901-8800 | aflando@3DMPmag.com
Ryan King | Sr. Director of Sales
773/414-9292 | rking@3DMPmag.com
Melissa King | Sales Representative
312/350-8807 |mking@rkmediaadv.com
Bob West | Sales Representative
678/377-5749 | metalform_bobwest@msn.com
Marketing Director | Susan Hunter-Vazinski shunter@3DMPmag.com
Meetings & Events Manager | Katlyn Stratis kstratis@3DMPmag.com
All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without permission is strictly prohibited.
An official publication of
“I’m proud to announce that we have found our very own gemba walker —industry insider Todd Grimm. His new column debuts in this issue.”
bureaus and interview those on the front lines of the metal- AM movement. With these interviews, Grimm promises to present a balanced, unbiased view (“no Grimm’s fairy tales,” he promises) of metal additive manufacturing.
“The messages to be conveyed,” Grimm proposes, “are those that users feel are important to share and that are discovered through informal conversations. There are no agendas, and there are no pre-prepared interview questions.”
That’s exactly the plan for gemba walks—no scripts nor preconceived notions. These are opportunities to gather data from every source possible, and
identify areas ripe for improvement from every corner and crevice of the factory floor.
Grimm is the founder and president of T. A. Grimm & Associates, Inc., a consulting and commu-
nications company dedicated to additive manufacturing, and a 26-yr. veteran of the AM industry. And, he knows that this industry relies as much on the people working in it as it does on the equipment and technology. As a respected consultant, author, writer, speaker and researcher in the field, he’ll be able to conduct incredibly meaningful conversations with the people leading the push to move metal AM into production manufacturing. We’re thrilled to have him on board.
In his inaugural column (pp. 34-38), Grimm talks with Ashley Nichols, general manager of 3D Material Technologies, a metal-AM service provider in Deland, FL. Here are a few insightful view- points that Nichols shared with Grimm:
• Nichols’ advice is to look to metal AM when settling for status quo because there are no better options, or when open to change that results in big gains. “If you are happy with what you are getting,” he explains, “stick with it. But if there is a need to improve, metal AM may be a great alternative.”
• “Without design modifications to improve performance, reduce cost and decrease time, the value of metal AM is severely undermined,” he says.
• Low-volume production often is cited as a critical factor for success, but Nichols sees this pillar differently. He believes that the success factor is high-mix, mid-volume production, where metal AM opens the door to timely, affordable production of multiple designs.
Editorial Director bkuvin@pma.org
4 | 3D METAL PRINTING • SPRING 2017
3DMPmag.com