3D Printing and Anticipatory Business Ethics

Abstract

3D printing (or “additive manufacturing”) is already beginning to change the nature of how businesses produce artefacts. The nature of 3D printing technology is changing as rapidly as it can be developed. From the perspective of business, 3D printing replaces earlier methods of manufacturing so that rather than cutting material away in order to make products, it produces artefacts by adding material in layers. This method of manufacturing creates alterations at a number of levels when compared with traditional manufacturing. It greatly reduces the amount of waste created by traditional manufacturing. It allows precise control over the material composition of products. It exerts an influence upon the design of products that allows for rapid designing, prototyping, and redesigning. It allows for the production of items where no assembly is required while also allowing compact, portable manufacturing (Lipsom and Kurman, Fabricated the new world of 3D printing. Wiley, Indianapolis, 2013, pp. 20–23). While 3D printing has the potential for altering the nature of business practices it has already begun to shift the traditional models of production for businesses and individuals. There are alterations related to the product design process and as well as economies of scale. 3D printing allows the development of a business model that combines aspects of mass production and artisan individual production. Anticipatory ethics provides a basis for addressing a variety of important questions about 3D printing and the alterations in business it stands to create. This paper will describe how 3D printing will create alterations in business, and attempt to anticipate some of the ethical issues that may arise for businesses as a result of 3D printing.