ABSTRACT
The technological advancements that have occurred over the past few decades have greatly accelerated the human race’s capability and innovation. Now, with the advent of additive manufacturing (AM), we are on the cusp of a new era of behavior-changing possibilities. This new technology offers us the opportunity to create more effective and efficient ways to improve society. Through the use of AM, a complex product can be created from its designed data in the form of layers. It can be made with high precision and minimal waste. Compared to the traditional manufacturing process, AM provides numerous environmental advantages. It eliminates the need for raw materials and the use of smart and new materials. It can reduce the amount of waste and energy used in the production of a component. Moreover, AM has the ability to revolutionize many industries and aspects of society. It has the potential to transform how products are designed, manufactured, and distributed. This chapter aims to review the societal impact of additive production. It explores the various advantages of this technology and its potential to improve the quality of life and reduce the environmental impact of manufacturing. These include the creation of customized healthcare products, instant automobile parts, and lightweight better-quality aerospace commodities. This instant availability and easy-to-manufacture advantages improve production and reduce product costs to a great extent. The current chapter focuses on the vital features of AM toward industrial revolution and innovations in society. A special emphasis has been laid on the pros and cons of AM in society, which will provide a bigger picture of the role of AM in a nation’s progress and development. This chapter also tends to provide further information on steps to be followed for implementation of AM toward a better and safer future.
