3D printing service provider 3D People questions the “price per part” metric

London-based manufacturing service provider 3D People is questioning the common benchmarks used to evaluate additive manufacturing. In a recent technical article, founders Sasha Bruml and Felix Manley argue that, while comparing price per part with processes such as injection molding may seem obvious, it ignores key effects of 3D printing.

At its core, 3D People criticizes that per-part cost considerations provide no insight into design freedom, lead times, and inventory costs. Since 3D printing does not require tooling investments, parts can be iteratively optimized and produced on demand in small batch sizes. Designers can align geometries more closely with function, weight, and ease of assembly instead of the constraints of conventional manufacturing processes. This reduces assemblies, simplifies logistics, and can lower the number of warranty cases.

“Additive isn’t just a different way to make parts, it’s a completely different production philosophy,” says Manley. “When companies focus purely on price per part, they miss the bigger picture, design freedom, shorter lead times, reduced inventory, and a more responsive supply chain. These are real commercial advantages that don’t show up on a spreadsheet.”

“The smartest companies are looking beyond unit cost and focusing on total cost of ownership,” adds Bruml. “When you factor in savings from lighter designs, reduced assembly complexity, and fewer warranty issues, additive often delivers better long-term value, even when the price per part appears higher.”

3D People positions itself as a partner that supports customers along the entire process chain – from design-for-additive and selection of materials and processes through to post-processing and quality assurance.

“We don’t just quote parts, we collaborate,” says Manley. “Our mission is to help engineers and procurement teams see additive as a full manufacturing solution, not just a quick fix.”

From the service provider’s perspective, the success of additive manufacturing will be measured less by the price-per-part metric and more by tangible improvements in functional integration, supply chain responsiveness, and the technical performance of components. For designers and procurement departments, this means adapting evaluation models and sourcing processes to the logic of digital manufacturing.