Chapter 1

Importance of Additive Manufacturing in the Era of Industry 4.0

Bijaya Bikram Samal

Bijaya Bikram Samal

Advanced Technology Development Centre, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, West Bengal, India

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Abhishek Kumar

Abhishek Kumar

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, West Bengal, India

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Anita Jena

Anita Jena

Advanced Technology Development Centre, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, West Bengal, India

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Debadutta Mishra

Debadutta Mishra

Department of Production Engineering, Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology, Burla, Sambalpur, Odisha, India

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Shailendra Kumar Varshney

Shailendra Kumar Varshney

Department of Electronics and Electrical Communication, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, West Bengal, India

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Ashish Kumar Nath

Ashish Kumar Nath

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, West Bengal, India

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Cheruvu Siva Kumar

Cheruvu Siva Kumar

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, West Bengal, India

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First published: 21 May 2025

Summary

The Industrial Revolution has undoubtedly shaped human history, with its continual development since the eighteenth century leading to four major transformations, and potentially a fifth yet to come. At the forefront of this revolution is Industry 4.0, embodying extensive digitization, interconnections, and data analytics. Within this modern industrial movement, Additive Manufacturing (AM) plays a crucial role, facilitating decentralized production, customization, and sustainability. This integration is made possible by a variety of technological enablers, including the Internet of Things (IoT), big data analytics, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence. With its ability to create intricate structures and designs layer by layer, AM perfectly aligns with the core principles of Industry 4.0. This chapter delves into the dynamic synergy between AM and digital innovations, exploring how it is changing the face of modern manufacturing. By incorporating AM alongside digital twins and simulation technologies, manufacturing efficiency is significantly improved with the ability for live monitoring and proactive maintenance.

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