Self-assembly, replication, self-repair and self-adaptation will change design, and the creative process that gives life to components, giving birth to a new era in the manufacturing world. 3D printing will no longer be a component's end-of-life. On the contrary, it will be just the beginning.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Self-Assembly Lab director Skylar Tibbits, a trained architect, designer and computer scientist, has been working in collaboration with Stratasys and Autodesk to develop smart components that after being 3D printed can reconfigure themselves without the assistance of a human being.
Keywords: 3D printing in manufacturing, manufacturing innovation, MIT Self-Assembly Lab, supply chain, supply chain management, supply chain management IT
