The usefulness of additive manufacturing (AM) in COVID-19

Azhar Equbal; Shahid Akhter; Anoop Kumar Sood; Iftekhar Equbal

doi:10.1016/j.stlm.2021.100013

The usefulness of additive manufacturing (AM) in COVID-19

Ann 3D Print Med. 2021 Jun:2:100013. doi: 10.1016/j.stlm.2021.100013. Epub 2021 Apr 26.

Authors

Azhar Equbal¹, Shahid Akhter², Anoop Kumar Sood³, Iftekhar Equbal⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi 110025, India.
² Centre for Management Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi 110025, India.
³ Department of Manufacturing Engineering, National Institute of Foundry and Forge Technology, Ranchi, Jharkhand, 834003, India.
⁴ Department of rural Management, Xavier Institute of Social Service, Jharkhand, 834001, India.

Abstract

COVID-19 caused by novel coronavirus is a serious pandemic that has affected the various countries all across the globe. The effect of this pandemic is so devastating that many rising nations are brought to their knees and struggling to save the damage posed to their economy. Medical professionals and the healthcare community are paying their best effort to minimize and overcome the spread of this pandemic. To continue to fight against the COVID-19, healthcare delivery systems require the support of novel technologies which can meet their rapid demand for medical equipment and devices. The study explores the damage caused by COVID-19 to the industrial sector and the way AM is contributing to the economy post-COVID-19. State of the art concerning the application of AM in the present scenario especially to support the interrupted global supply chain is collected and analysed to identify its relevance in the battle against COVID-19.

Keywords: 3D printing; Additive manufacturing; COVID-19; Face shield; PPE; supply chain.

Publication types

Review