The technology evolves in such killing pace had created many complications for logistics service providers such as third-party logistic (3PL) and fouth-party logistic (4PL). The new emerging technology such as 3D printing, autonomous vehicles, business models using network platform-based and sharing economy demand increases as it provides the fulfilment of client for the ease of accessibility, economical, efficient and convenient.
Table of Contents
Tools for 3D Software Application
Dassault Systèmes provides a wide variety of software provides tools used in 3D modelling, layout planning, manufacturing process planning, document profiling and other. The picture below shows the range of Dassault Systemes software.
CATIA software can be applied to wide variety of industries as its functions are very powerful. The industries such as aerospace, automotive, industrial machinery, electrical, electronics, shipbuilding, plant design, and consumer goods, including design for such diverse products as jewellery and clothing. The software is capable of tackle complete product development process. From the start of developing product concept specification through product-in-service, in a fully integrated and associative manner.
Another well-known software provided by Dassault Systèmes is Solidworks. Similar to CATIA, it also could be used to design new product. However, this software focuses more on solving design problems. SOLIDWORKS has a function known as SOLIDWORKS simulation which is a tool that allows the designer to visualise product behaviour under different operating situations and conditions. The simulation could put the product under wide variety of scenarios and make changes as they determine which traits they want to enhance and which traits they want to eliminate. The designed product details store in the software could be print out using 3D printer.
3D Printing
Ever since the 3D technology gains the publicity, the impact it created was enormous as it disrupts the peace of traditional supply chain and logistics industries. The process of 3D printing was convenience and fast that many sectors desire these traits.
Eric Masanet, the Morris E Fine junior professor at Northwestern University in the Robert R McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science, stated that 3D printed metal parts can reduce the weight of an aircraft up to 7% (Halterman, 2015).
The US Department of Energy Advanced Manufacturing Office states that 3D printing could be used to build lighter and more efficient metal parts using cutting edge materials. It also reduces manufacturing waste as it will conserve thousands of expensive material such as aluminium, titanium and nickel. Since the amount of the fuel used by the aircraft heavily depends on its weight, 3D printing allows the metal parts to be print in such manner that the weight itself is reduced by comparing the existing manufacturing process. As an example provided by Masanet, to produce a 1kg bracket for an aeroplane using conventional methods may as well used up to 10 kg raw material. By using 3D printing, the production on such bracket could reduce the weight from 1.09kg to just 0.38kg, and that proves that 3D printing can provide the opportunities for major savings as large and complex as an aircraft (Halterman, 2015).
China, reluctant at first had accepted and fully embrace the concept 3D printing. The first large Chinese commercial passenger jet built in 2017, featuring 3D printed parts had been introduced to the world proudly. The passenger jet, also known as C919 aircraft, had been tested flight and proven to be safe to use (Saunders, 2017).
Adobe Software Solutions
Customers now expect the 3PL and 4PL to provide more advanced and adaptable solution offering due to the constantly improving technology, in turn, allow them to compete on a higher plane (Reichert, 2009).
Adobe provides many tools that ease the process of storing and preparing all the document and as well as designing purposes. One of the products known Adobe Creative Cloud is useful for the marketing purposes. The software helps the user to create and design logos, posters, brochures, advertisements, and other (Adobe Systems Incorporated., 2018).
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References:
Adobe Systems Incorporated. (2018). Retrieved from Adobe: https://www.adobe.com/sea, accessed 21/03/2018.
Autodest Inc. (2018). “3D Modeling”. Retrieved from https://www.autodesk.com/solutions/3d-modeling-software, accessed 21/03/2018.
Bavani Prapaharan. MISPMM (2018). “New Technologies in the Maritime Industry”. Retrieved from https://publication.sipmm.edu.sg/new-technologies-maritime-industry, accessed 20/03/2018.
Dassault Systèmes (2018). “The 3D experience company, provides business and people with virtual universes to imagine sustainable innovations”. Retrieved from https://www.3ds.com, accessed 21/03/2018.
Halterman, T. (2015). “New Data Shows That 3D Printed Components Could Cut Aircraft Weight By 7 Percent”. Retrieved from https://3dprint.com/71279/3d-print-aircraft-weight, accessed 21/03/2018.
Rehman, M. (2017). “Pratt & Whitney Turbofan Engine PW1000G – CATIA v5”. Retrieved from https://seelio.com/w/2y6y/pratt-whitney-turbofan-engine-pw1000g-_-catia-v5, accessed 21/03/2018.
Reichert, J. (2009). “The Value of Becoming a Technology-Driven 3PL”. Retrieved from https://logisticsviewpoints.com/2009/09/10/the-value-of-becoming-a-technology-driven-3pl, accessed 21/03/2018.
Saunders, S. (2017). “China’s First Large Commercial Passenger Jet, Featuring 3D Printed Metal Parts, Makes Successful Maiden Flight”. Retrieved from https://3dprint.com/175556/china-jet-3d-printed-metal-parts, accessed 21/03/2018.