Sustainability of Additive Manufacturing and LCA: an interactive program for comparing manufacturing approaches

Additive Manufacturing has become more and more mainstream as technologies evolve and become more useful, although the perspective seems bright, it is undeniable that the technology has its limitations that inhibit the grater adoption of it nowadays. This thesis will seek to compile and discuss advantages and disadvantages of additive manufacturing as it pertains to sustainable manufacturing, namely Topological optimisation, Waste reduction, Low Scale Efficiency, Customization, Spare Parts, Reduction of inventory, Design Simplification, Time to market, Decentralized Manufacturing, Low Scalability, Productivity, High Embodied Impact Materials, High costs, Lack of experienced workforce, Adaptation of traditional designers, Information Asymmetry and Toxic Powder and Substances. Then the presence, impact and potential of AM in the Aerospace, Automotive and Medical industry will be discussed as well. Additionally this thesis will present a decision making tool, for simulating LCAs by allowing the user to easily change initial inputs, through a user interface, in order to permit the visualization of positive impacts that can be captured through Additive Manufacturing as opposed to Traditional Manufacturing practices.