ImplementAM Launches a Nationwide Series of Events Designed to Educate New Adopters of Additive Manufacturing

Designed to be different from your typical conference or seminar, ImplementAM is a case study based additive manufacturing (AM) workshop with a focus on evaluating the business decisions behind additive manufacturing in a small and collaborative environment (less PowerPoint and more interaction!). When attendees leave an ImplementAM event they will understand what implementation of AM looks like, and who to call to get help.

“As the Additive Manufacturing industry continues to grow, there is abundant interest in implementing 3D printing for industrial manufacturing, but a glaring lack of education for new adopters on how to do it in the right way”, says Co-Founder & Head of Operations, Kristin Mulherin, “We want to utilize real-world case studies, in a small collaborative environment, to provide the knowledge and unbiased insight that’s needed to successfully bring AM into their organizations.”

There will be one event per month, each in a different city. The first event is scheduled for Detroit on January 19th, followed by Los Angeles, Chicago/Milwaukee, Portland (OR), Cleveland, Tampa, Charlotte, Huntsville, Boston, and Austin (additional cities, including Denver and Philadelphia, might be added). Each event has a very limited capacity to ensure more interaction amongst the participants and a more hands-on approach from the organizers. The difference is the small and collaborative format, creating an environment designed to facilitate discussion and networking.

Each event is divided into a morning and afternoon session, with the morning session dedicated to a keynote from a local expert 3D printing practitioner and technical presentations on the 3D printing technologies most commonly used for industrial additive manufacturing. The Detroit keynote will be given by Harold Sears (President, Imagine Additive Consulting), who up until recently was the Technical Leader for Additive Manufacturing Technologies at Ford Motor Company.

The afternoon is dedicated to the case study workshops. Case studies are to be primarily focussed on the business cases surrounding AM. Attendees will be divided into small groups of 5-6 people to work through case studies that have been co-developed with the sponsors. Each group will be presented with a problem statement and will then collaboratively work through to a solution utilizing a problem-solving methodology that’s fundamentally based in new technology adoption.

“There’s an opportunity for AM to improve the way that we design products and manufacture them today,” says David Tucker, Co-Founder & Head of Education, “however it is dependent on companies knowing when to apply digital solutions to get the most from them. We believe that learning from the success (and failures) of other businesses will help prepare people to look for and take advantage of potential opportunities.”

ImplementAM is working with an extensive network of partners to help deliver the educational content; including 3D printer OEMs, contract manufacturers, materials providers, and other entities within the digital manufacturing space. At this time, EOS, TRUMPF, HP, GKN (Forecast3D), Henkel, and MatterHackers have all signed on to participate.

“We see ImplementAM as a way to accelerate the use of additive manufacturing methods in practice.” says Jack Pennuto Jr., Director of Sales & Applications, Laser Technology at TRUMPF, “The success of additive manufacturing depends on connecting with engineers and designers who can adopt the methods that address challenges in industrial applications.”

In addition to the educational aspect, it is equally important to the founders to give back to the community. As such, they have partnered with MatterHackers to donate a MakerBot Sketch 3D printer prize package ($1,700 value) to one school in every city they visit. It has been designed as a complete package – to set up a school for success – with materials, training, and maintenance & repair services from MatterHackers. At each event, the attendees will be given the option to vote on a shortlist of area schools to decide which one will receive the package. Schools can apply to be on the shortlist at www.matterhackers.com/implementam.

“MatterHackers is so happy to provide a 3D printer, training, and tech support services to local schools around the country in partnership with ImplementAM”, says Mara Hitner, VP of Strategic Partnerships at MatterHackers, “Schools, small businesses, and corporations who are implementing 3D printing into their workflows and curriculum often start with inexpensive, accessible desktop FDM printers, and we are honored to offer our expertise to the organizers and participants of this informative and fun roadshow.”

Join us for the inaugural ImplementAM event in Detroit on January 19th, 2023, which will be limited to just 40 attendees. Register at Implement-AM.com and use Discount Code “AM-4MFG-2023” at checkout for a 10% discount.