3D printing could transform transportation industry

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3D printing could transform transportation industry

Government agencies and businesses must seriously consider 3D printing and ‘anywhere working’ to combat traffic congestion and pollution, according to RMIT Vietnam researchers.

RMIT Vietnam senior lecturer Dr Reza Akbari said new advanced manufacturing such as 3D printing will engender new opportunities for the transportation industry throughout the supply chain. RMIT Vietnam senior lecturer Dr Reza Akbari said new advanced manufacturing such as 3D printing will engender new opportunities for the transportation industry throughout the supply chain.

RMIT Vietnam’s School of Business & Management senior lecturer and lead author Dr Reza Akbari said new advanced manufacturing (also known as Addictive Manufacturing (AM)), such as 3D printing will engender new opportunities for the transportation industry throughout the supply chain.

“3D printing is regarded by researchers as a disruptive production technology which supports innovation and flexible manufacturing, streamlines supply chain planning, reduces transportation costs and lead time, and reduces warehouse requirements,” Dr Akbari said.

He also highlighted “the opportunity to print spare parts for trucks, trains, aircraft and ships on the go without any delay” as one of 3D printing’s most important features which can lead to a “significant improvement in flexibility, speed and cost for logistics and transportation”.

“Vietnam has become one of the most attractive emerging markets thanks to the loosening of its investment policy and permissions for 100 per cent foreign-owned investments,” said Dr Akbari.

“The country is the second-largest coffee producer in the world, one of the top ten garment exporters and a leading furniture exporter. High-tech products are now being manufactured and developed in the country by multinational organisations such as Samsung, Intel, IBM, Fujitsu, Nokia and Canon, and the logistics development and investment sector has attracted many Third-Party Logistics multinational companies like DHL, Schenker, Kuehne + Nagel, and Gemadept.”

Dr Akbari said that the predicted growth for rapidly developing cities like Ho Chi Minh City will ultimately result in overwhelming traffic congestion and threaten a liveable future.

“Major transformative changes must be explored to ensure that Ho Chi Minh City, which is predicted to have the second fastest growing economy in Asia by 2021, will be able to transition into a smart and liveable city,” he said. “Smart mobility is one of the six pillars of the smart city focusing on clean and non-motorised transport options and ICT integration.”

Dr Reza Akbari (pictured, right) with co-researcher Bachelor of Business (Logistics and Supply Chain Management) student Ha Tuan Nghiep (pictured, left). Dr Reza Akbari (pictured, right) with co-researcher Bachelor of Business (Logistics and Supply Chain Management) student Ha Tuan Nghiep (pictured, left).

Dr Akbari encouraged public and government agencies to seriously consider new disruptive technology like 3D printing and anywhere working [Dr Akbari’s previous paper] while examining critical areas where technological innovations are needed the most.

“Organisations [in Vietnam] have a positive attitude towards the impact of 3D printing, however it has been identified as the least anticipated technology in the transportation industry [even though 3D printing has been found] to be strong on customisation, competitive advantage and cost reduction,” he said.

The research paper Impact of additive manufacturing on the Vietnamese transportation industry: An exploratory study, conducted by Dr Reza Akbari and Bachelor of Business (Logistics and Supply Chain Management) student Ha Tuan Nghiep, was published in the Asian Journal of Shipping and Logistics (Elsevier Q2 Rank).

Story: Ha Hoang

25 February 2020

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