The United States moved closer to legalizing the commercial use of drones in February, when the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) published proposed regulations. Although some criticized the rules as too restrictive (for example, drones would have to fly only during daylight and within sight of the operator), there is plenty of time for the FAA to change the regulations before they become final, in one to two years.
A third (35 percent) of businesses in the manufacturing industry are extremely concerned about potential supply chain disruption, according to research released by BSI, the business standards company and the Business Continuity Institute (BCI).
Steve Geary, president of Supply Chain Visions, shares stories of "extreme" supply chains in Afghanistan – and tells how those strategies and lessons can be applied in the U.S.
Before we ask where 3D printing is taking us, let's look at what has been already achieved or is near achievement across markets beyond printing prototypes, toys and models.
Lightweight, high-performance metals leader Alcoa has announced plans to further expand its global aerospace business by acquiring privately held TITAL. The acquisition will strengthen Alcoa's global position to capture increasing demand for advanced jet engine components made of titanium.
