Many of those new to the additive industry still operate under the hype of what 3D printing is, and they don’t understand, truly, what the cool applications are, or even what the basic applications are, from jigs and fixtures, to prototyping, and so on, notes Kunal Mehta, head of consulting at Blueprint.

To help users understand additive better, Stratasys launches Blueprint, a Stratasys-owned additive manufacturing consultancy, Included with Blueprint is a first-of-its-kind technology enablement program, “Think Additively,” to help businesses more holistically embrace additive manufacturing throughout their organizations. The program is meant to go beyond technical Design for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM) training to help companies achieve larger transformation goals, such as creating innovation engines, accelerating go-to-market and improving manufacturing efficiency.

In a recent Blueprint study, 85% of companies ranked knowledge as their biggest barrier to driving greater adoption of additive manufacturing across their organizations. “Transforming manufacturing is more than buying a 3D printer, and thinking additively is more than Design for Additive Manufacturing,” says Mehta. “Achieving strategic benefits like streamlined global supply chains or an improved new product development process requires communication across the organization, and communication requires a shared language. Whether an organization is early in additive adoption or mature, it is our aim to provide the knowledge and the language to achieve these transformational benefits.”

The Think Additively program includes on-site courses, individualized coaching, and additive accelerator workshops. The program takes clients through a tailored, multi-step journey via four components:

1. Foundations: A three-day level-set on additive technologies, benefits, and design principles to establish a common language.
2. Additive Coaching: A 3-12-month coaching engagement working with individuals to put Foundations knowledge into practice.
3. Growth Engagements: Custom additive manufacturing acceleration workshops to identify and realize the business value of 3D printing.
4. Advanced Courses: Deep dives into technical design disciplines, enabling applications of the future.

Think Additively Foundations can be delivered at either a client’s location or a Stratasys site with course content accessible through an online, mobile-friendly adaptive learning platform. For more information, visit www.additiveblueprint.com/thinkadditively

Blueprint 
www.additiveblueprint.com