Increases the risk due to rapid technological change within the additive manufacturing industry?

Increases the risk due to rapid technological change within the additive manufacturing industry?

• A. Governance and Compliance Processes
• B. Product Obsolescence
• C. Supplier Dependence
• D. Cyber Security Tests

Answer: (B)

Rapid advances in additive manufacturing mean designs, materials, and production methods can become outdated quickly. The main risk this creates is product obsolescence: a part or product that relied on older technology may no longer be viable, leading to redesigns, tooling updates, and inventory or aftermarket support challenges. As newer printers, materials, or design tools emerge, earlier offerings can lose demand or require costly changes to stay compatible. That’s why product obsolescence best captures the impact of rapid tech change in this context. Governance and compliance, supplier dependence, and cyber security tests are important risks, but they don’t address the immediate consequence of accelerating technological evolution as directly.

Rapid advances in additive manufacturing mean designs, materials, and production methods can become outdated quickly. The main risk this creates is product obsolescence: a part or product that relied on older technology may no longer be viable, leading to redesigns, tooling updates, and inventory or aftermarket support challenges. As newer printers, materials, or design tools emerge, earlier offerings can lose demand or require costly changes to stay compatible. That’s why product obsolescence best captures the impact of rapid tech change in this context. Governance and compliance, supplier dependence, and cyber security tests are important risks, but they don’t address the immediate consequence of accelerating technological evolution as directly.