Additive Manufacturing is Tailor-Made: Why Your Shop Needs an Automated Scheduling Solution Tailor-Made for AM
Additive manufacturing (AM) is revolutionizing production, offering unmatched flexibility to create custom, complex, and high-performance parts that traditional methods simply can’t replicate. AM thrives in industries where precision and customization are non-negotiable—from aerospace and medical devices to automotive and industrial tooling.
But while the technology powering AM has rapidly evolved, many manufacturers are still relying on outdated, one-size-fits-all scheduling methods that weren’t designed for the unique needs of AM. Manual scheduling, spreadsheets, or even generic ERP scheduling tools weren’t built to handle AM’s dynamic workflows, leading to inefficiencies, delays, and lost profitability.
So, the question is: If you’re using cutting-edge AM technology at scale to produce tailor-made parts, why wouldn’t you use an automated scheduling system tailor-made for AM to run your shop floor?
Why Generic Scheduling Fails in Additive Manufacturing
Traditional manufacturing methods follow linear production steps, where each phase is clearly defined—raw materials come in, machining or assembly happens, and finished parts are produced in predictable cycles. Because of this, legacy ERP and MES scheduling systems were built to handle traditional manufacturing, not additive manufacturing.
Additive Manufacturing, on the other hand, with heterogeneous build platforms, introduces complex, non-linear workflows that demand a different approach to scheduling. Here’s why generic scheduling systems fall short in AM environments:
Challenge 1: Nesting & Build Plate Optimization Are Ignored
AM shops don’t just schedule individual jobs—they must strategically nest multiple parts onto build plates to maximize efficiency, reduce waste, and optimize print time. Generic scheduling tools don’t account for how builds are nested, leading to inefficient job planning, underutilized printer capacity, and disconnects to post-processing operations.
Challenge 2: Post-Processing Complexity Creates Bottlenecks
Unlike subtractive manufacturing, AM doesn’t stop at the printer. Post-processing steps like support removal, heat treatment, and machining are often required. AM workflow tools don’t track these secondary processes in real time, resulting in poorly dispatched jobs and blindness to whether jobs will be completed on time and meet delivery requirements.
Challenge 3: Resource Qualification & Machine Constraints Aren’t Considered
Some industries require qualification (PPAPs, customer approvals, manufacturability, etc.) of both AM and subtractive resources to ensure quality parts are delivered to the customer. Traditional scheduling solutions do not account for this part-resource qualification relationship and are unable to auto-assign and schedule work centers based on capability, qualification, and capacity.
Challenge 4: No Real-Time Dynamic Adjustments
AM production isn’t static—machine downtime, material shortages, and rush orders require real-time schedule adjustments. Without scheduling automation, production supervisors are stuck manually updating complex schedules, potentially impacting hundreds of operations, wasting valuable time, and increasing error risks.
nPower Scheduler™: The Only Scheduling Solution Built for AM
To solve these challenges, AM shops need an intelligent, automated scheduling solution built specifically for the unique demands of additive manufacturing. That’s where nPower Scheduler™ comes in.
Unlike generic scheduling tools, nPower Scheduler™ is tailor-made for AM, giving manufacturers complete shop floor control while maximizing efficiency and profitability. Here’s how:
Automated Scheduling of Nested Build Plates
nPower Scheduler™ integrates seamlessly with MES and ERP data to schedule nested build plates according to each part’s resource qualification, individual post-processing routings, and delivery date requirements.
End-to-End Scheduling from Print to Post-Processing
Instead of just scheduling print jobs, nPower Scheduler™ schedules every post-processing step—support removal, heat treatment, final machining, finishing, inspection, etc.—of every job into a single, entire-shop-floor production schedule. No more bottlenecks. No more wasted time.
Smart Resource Allocation & Machine Optimization
nPower Scheduler™ automatically assigns jobs to the right machines and operators based on material requirements and availabilities, machine capabilities, and resource qualifications. This ensures every job is matched to the best resources available, eliminating costly misassignments.
Real-Time Adjustments & Predictive Scheduling
When unexpected changes happen—machine downtime, urgent orders, or material shortages—production supervisors can dynamically adjust the nPower schedule in real time, ensuring production keeps moving without disruption.
Measurable ROI & Cost Savings
AM shops using nPower Scheduler™ have reported a 300%+ ROI, with cost savings from:
- Faster scheduling & reduced manual workload
- Optimized machine utilization & reduced idle time
- Lower labor & overtime costs
- Fewer delays & improved on-time delivery
Schedule Your Demo
AM wasn’t built on traditional manufacturing principles, so why are so many AM shops still using outdated scheduling methods? If you’ve invested in state-of-the-art 3D printing equipment, but your scheduling is still manual, you’re leaving money on the table.
nPower Scheduler™ is the only scheduling solution tailor-made for AM shops—ensuring production efficiency from build plates to post-processing while maximizing profitability.
Stop scheduling manually. Stop throwing away good money.
Book a demo today and see how nPower Scheduler™ transforms AM production.
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