Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - 13

transport rates and a reduction in turnover due to
production stoppages and prolonged delivery times.
Moreover, the rerouting of hundreds of cargo ships
around the Horn of Africa has strained maritime infrastructure
and resources, exacerbating congestion
at ports and amplifying operational inefficiencies.
Lastly, this also increases the environmental footprint,
leading to higher carbon emissions with each
additional mile travelled.
In response to the escalating crisis, governments
have initiated measures to safeguard maritime interests
and bolster supply chain resilience. Despite
these efforts, the evolving nature of the conflict underscores
the need for innovative solutions that can
mitigate the impact of disruptions and fortify supply
chain resilience.
Solutions Toward Higher Resilience
Increasing the buffer in warehouses could minimize
the risk of supply gaps but counteract previous
efforts to reduce inventory and increase tied-up
capital, warehousing costs, and obsolescence. Another
option is to source from several suppliers in multiple
locations; should one supplier fail, others can cover
the demand. However, interconnected global supply
chains are often dependent upon a few suppliers of basic
materials. Subsequently, for specific parts or components,
it is very likely that all suppliers worldwide
might be affected by the shortage of basic materials
and/or components. A better solution is not only supplier
diversification but also diversification in material
alternatives.
A third way to improve the resilience of the supply
chain is to turn to decentral 3D printing - as witnessed
at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This saw many manufacturers 3D print critical parts
needed to fight COVID-19, such as face shields or
valves for respiratory devices. Unlike traditional manufacturing
processes reliant on centralized factories
and extensive supply chains, decentralized 3D printing
offers a paradigm shift in production dynamics.
3D Printing as a Flexible Production
Method
Additive manufacturing (AM) produces a part
layer by layer via a digital file. Once a part is qualified
and print parameters are set, it does not
need any ramp-up but can simply be sent
securely to a 3D-printing service bureau
for fast, cost-effective production in the
needed amount. In the case of supply
chain disruptions, 3D printing could
be used as so-called bridge manufacturing,
meaning bridging the
gap between current customer
demand and late deliveries of respective
parts due to supply chain
Tech Briefs, April 2024
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13

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Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024

Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - Intro
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - Sponsor
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - Cov1
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - Cov2
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - 1
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - 2
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - 3
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - 4
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - 5
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - 6
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - 7
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - 8
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - 9
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - 10
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - 11
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - 12
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - 13
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - 14
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - 15
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - 16
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - 16A
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - 16B
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - 16C
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - 16D
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - 17
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - 18
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - 19
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - 20
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - 21
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - 22
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - 23
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - 24
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - 25
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - 26
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - 27
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - 28
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - 29
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - 30
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - 31
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Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - 35
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Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - 37
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - 38
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - 39
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - 40
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - 41
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - 42
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Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - 46
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - 47
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - 48
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - Cov3
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - Cov4
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - MD-Cov1
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - MD-Cov2
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - MD-1
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - MD-2
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - MD-3
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - MD-4
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - MD-5
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - MD-6
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - MD-7
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - MD-8
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - MD-9
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - MD-10
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - MD-11
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - MD-12
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - MD-13
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - MD-14
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - MD-15
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - MD-16
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - MD-17
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - MD-18
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - MD-19
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - MD-20
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - MD-21
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - MD-22
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - MD-23
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - MD-24
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - MD-25
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - MD-26
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - MD-27
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - MD-28
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - MD-Cov3
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - MD-Cov4
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