Real, structural economic changes—supply chain disruptions, reshoring pressures, workforce shortages, the erosion of domestic supplier capacity in key sectors—are driving renewed interest in Additive Manufacturing (AM). In this environment, AM is not competing with traditional production, it is filling gaps that traditional production can no longer reach. The following is taken from AMT’s Additive Manufacturing Report 2026. Dive deeper into the infrastructure that will best help you adopt AM by downloading your own free copy today. This article is one of a series stemming from this report. Check out our other articles in this series: Where AM is delivering in MRO, Hybrid Manufacturing: Additive Freedom, Metalworking Quality, and Calculating Hidden Costs of Additive Manufacturing. Three main types of infrastructure support additive adoption: facility infrastructure, workforce requirements, and the ability to integrate AM processes into the rest of the workflow. Facility Infrastructure Start with physical requirements. Within your facility, consider how you can accommodate additive in regards to: Power requirements Floor space for: Machines Part post-processing Environmental controls (for factors such as temperature and humidity) Safety requirements (ventilation and proper training) Workforce Requirements Additive manufacturing doesn’t eliminate labor requirements, rather, it redistributes them across digital, operational, and post-processing stages. Employees who will be working with the machines usually need: Powder safety training Training and certification in machine operation, and Training in standard operating procedures for quality inspection Download NowWorkflow Integration Additive rarely operates as a standalone process and typically becomes one step within a broader production chain. Consider how your new additive manufacturing equipment fits into the rest of your workflow, including: Digital design systems Hybrid production processes Quality management Overall production management software (ERP, MES) The Key Takeaway: Successfully deploying additive manufacturing requires more than installing a printer. Facilities, workforce skills, post-processing capabilities, and workflow integration must support the full production chain. For manufacturers ready to move from evaluating AM to implementing it, IMTS 2026 is the place to learn from experts on it firsthand. IMTS – The International Manufacturing Technology Show brings together AM systems and service providers all under one roof. It is the largest manufacturing technology event in the Western Hemisphere, and additive manufacturing is a core part of it. You can find more information about AM at IMTS.com/additive. You can also download the full 2026 Additive Manufacturing Report to dive deeper on this topic. Further Reading: Where Additive Manufacturing Is Already Delivering: Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul Hybrid Manufacturing: Additive Freedom, Metalworking Quality Hidden Costs of Additive Manufacturing
Are you ready to integrate additive manufacturing? Follow our handy checklist to ensure you’re fully prepared to add AM to your list of capabilities.
Subscribe to Newsletters
Get the latest news from IMTS delivered to your inbox.