Keeping up with the fast pace of technology is essential for a country to remain competitive in the present global economy. One industry that is heavily reliant on technology is manufacturing.

With the global market pushing for the fourth industrial revolution, Industry 4.0, the development of advanced manufacturing is an essential part of realising this vision. It provides nine pillars on digital transformation for the manufacturing industry which includes autonomous robots, simulated and augmented reality, Internet of Things (IoT), cybersecurity, cloud computing, supply chain, horizontal and vertical system integration, Additive Manufacturing, and big data analytics.

Additive manufacturing

In Malaysia, the manufacturing industry is facing several challenges to remain competitive in relative to the other countries. Malaysia must quickly adopt and adapt to the new frontiers of technologies or risk falling behind. All the pillars of Industry 4.0 are important, however, one manufacturing technology that stands out and can be used to boost Malaysia’s manufacturing industry is Additive Manufacturing or better known as three-dimensional (3D) printing.

3D Printing creates an interesting alternative to fill the void from conventional manufacturing which has reached its limits. Although 3D Printing seems new to the Malaysian public, the technology has been around for several decades.

Several local companies and government agencies have utilised 3D Printing as a tool for research, hand-craft industry, and educational purposes. However, the real potential has not been taken advantage of, such as its application in automotive, medical (dental and implants), aviation, fashion, food, and electronics which are all major industries in the Malaysian market.

The importance of 3D Printing is clearer nowadays especially when the whole world is hit by a fatal invisible army known as COVID-19 or novel coronavirus disease 2019. The economy and wellbeing of a nation are in a great challenge from all directions. The virus has entirely halted the movement of people which consequently forced manufacturing industries to stop at the same time. Production of essential items such as medical devices are running low due to the lack of production operation.

Universities, industries working together

Universities combined with industries are working hand-in-hand to develop and produce much-needed equipment and products. Products such as face shields were done by the community and hobbyists where they share the design and print the face shield to help cater to the overwhelming needs for the face shields by the frontlines.

With the uncontrolled spreading of the horrific virus, tests must be done on a large scale. To do so, the test kit must be manufactured in vast quantities. One of the key components for the test kit is nasopharyngeal swabs which are essential to collect the specimen. Due to the shortage of swabs, a new innovative solution is using 3D printers to manufacture the swab which can supply the necessary amount needed.

As we know, the number of patients increases by the day, which leads to some unfortunate patient infected by the virus to have serious acute respiratory distress syndrome which is a fatal lung condition. Such condition requires a specific medical device called a ventilator. A ventilator is used to provide oxygen to the lungs with the purpose of helping the patient to breathe. With the lack of ventilators in certain hospitals, another incredible feat using 3D printers is the ability to manufacture a 3D printer splitter. The splitter is used to increase the use of a single ventilator to serve multiple patients simultaneously.

A necessary ‘manufacturing process’

Now, 3D Printing has been considered a necessary ‘manufacturing process’, not just an alternative, and it is essential in helping the medical frontliners in fighting the war against COVID-19.

Moreover, the Global Agenda Council on Future of Software and Society, WEF, in September 2015, forecast several technological shifts that are expected to occur by 2025. This includes the first 3D-printed car in production, 5% of consumer products printed via 3D printers, and one of the most exciting technological feats if it is possible is the first transplant of the 3D-printed liver.

In conclusion, 3D Printing is an up-and-coming technology which Malaysia should grasp as it can be a prominent tool for the manufacturing industry. As Malaysians, we should be able to embrace, improve, and take advantage of new technology and become the next manufacturing hub in Southeast Asia.

-- BERNAMA

Dr Mohd Ifwat Mohd Ghazali, an academician and researcher in additive manufacturing (3D printing) technology, is a senior lecturer at Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM).

Dr Muhammad Syafiq Alauddin, whose expertise covers implantology, conservative dentistry and prosthetic dentistry, is a lecturer in the Faculty of Dentistry at USIM.