In this article we discuss how Metal 3D Printing is enabling digital spares inventory for just-in-time production on Oil & Gas Sector and how Intech Additive Solutions is leveraging this opportunity.
The Energy Sector and the Oil and the Gas industry (O&G) are typically risk-averse. Hence its adoption of new manufacturing technologies generally has been at a glacial pace. However, the increasing global demand for renewable energy and the economic decline of the Oil and Gas industry due to the COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to the need for alternate means of manufacturing.
Additive Manufacturing (AM), which has gained a firm foothold in the automotive and aerospace industry, is now making inroads into the Energy Sector. A high-power laser beam partially melts and fuses layers of metallic powder to form three-dimensional objects. Fully functional metal prototypes and three-dimensional end-use parts may thus be quickly prototyped and manufactured in a wide array of materials.
The lack of AM technologies and infrastructure was the major roadblock in integrating AM into the Oil and Gas industry’s manufacturing and supply chain process. The O&G industry has now begun relying on Metal 3D Printing as a commercially viable alternative to meet the rising demand for JIT (Just-In-Time) production of high-value spares and parts. Metal 3D Printing works on a digital-only input basis. It is geographically independent and can facilitate JIT production. High-density, high-strength, and high-performance complex geometry end-use parts and the long lead, low mass production items can be additively manufactured at relatively lower costs.
Conventional production methods of spares in the Oil and Gas industry require the procurement and assembly of multiple parts. As a result, any delay in the supply chain causes an immediate bottleneck on the entire production. Furthermore, this production delay adversely impacts the manufacturing and delivery schedules, severely affecting the production lead time. Metal 3D Printing overcomes the existing supply chain pain points by implementing a simplified digital supply chain.
Intech Additive Solutions, recognizing the crucial need for on-demand production, has successfully adopted and implemented the Digital Inventory approach for O&G parts. Digital Inventory requires only the library of the digital CAD models of the parts to be stored in a digital repository instead of maintaining physical storage. This streamlined process eliminates physical inventories, reduces lead time, reduces material wastage, and minimizes the carbon footprint of the manufacturing operations.
The inevitable wear and tear of the machine parts necessitate having an inventory of spares. Typically, for the O&G industry, the number of spares required is minimal. However, having the conventional inventory storage to maintain such low volume production incurs a high recurring cost. Hence, implementing the Digital Inventory approach will significantly reduce supply chain, inventory/pipeline, and transportation costs.
Why Intech is a go-to solution for your Metal 3D Printing needs
Intech’s indigenously designed and developed intelligent software (AMOptoMet and AMBuilder), along with its Metal 3D Printers (iFusion SF and iFusion LF), allow customers to optimize the process chain. Intech’s expertise in the Design for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM) also helps provide tailored solutions, from creating customized parts to replacing older parts with better-designed functional parts.
Digital Inventory and JIT production give Intech greater freedom in the design and production decisions, significantly improving the part’s quality, durability, and functionality while simultaneously saving manufacturing lead time and cost.
Contact us at [email protected] to know more about our Metal 3D Printing solutions.
About Intech Additive Solutions
Intech Additive Solutions Pvt. Ltd is the first Indian Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) to develop and supply Metal 3D Printers based on Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) technology. Intech Additive is a complete solutions provider in Metal Additive Manufacturing (AM) systems and AM Software. With its software suite, Intech’s Metal 3D Printers provide customers with a ready-to-print AM solution out-of-the-box coupled with local after-sales services. Intech Additive Solutions is a TUV Certified ISO 9001:2015 & AS 9100D company.
