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A Cost-Benefit Analysis of Additive Manufacturing as a Service

Igor Ivkić, Tobias Buhmann, Burkhard List

TL;DR

This paper addresses enabling affordable, local, on-demand manufacturing through Manufacturing as a Service (MaaS) by analyzing a Cloud Crafting Platform that connects web shops with nearby 3D printing SMEs. It implements a serverless, Service-Oriented Architecture deployed on Microsoft Azure and evaluates three printer models in a testbed along with a detailed cost-benefit framework. Results show per-ring production costs of about €2.12–€2.24 against suggested ring prices of €10–€15, yielding profit margins of roughly 400–600%, and a weighted profit-sharing scheme distributes revenue across stakeholders. The platform reduces environmental impact by shortening supply chains and eliminating inventory waste, while maintaining scalability and extensibility to other manufacturing technologies. The work provides a practical blueprint for additive MaaS architectures and identifies future research directions in quality control, broader technology integration, and governance of profit-sharing.

Abstract

The global manufacturing landscape is undergoing a fundamental shift from resource-intensive mass production to sustainable, localised manufacturing. This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of a Cloud Crafting Platform that enables Manufacturing as a Service (MaaS) through additive manufacturing technologies. The platform connects web shops with local three-dimensional (3D) printing facilities, allowing customers to purchase products that are manufactured on-demand in their vicinity. We present the platform's Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA), deployment on the Microsoft Azure cloud, and integration with three different 3D printer models in a testbed environment. A detailed cost-benefit analysis demonstrates the economic viability of the approach, which generates significant profit margins. The platform implements a weighted profit-sharing model that fairly compensates all stakeholders based on their investment and operational responsibilities. Our results show that on-demand, localised manufacturing through MaaS is not only technically feasible but also economically viable, while reducing environmental impact through shortened supply chains and elimination of inventory waste. The platform's extensible architecture allows for future integration of additional manufacturing technologies beyond 3D printing.

A Cost-Benefit Analysis of Additive Manufacturing as a Service

TL;DR

This paper addresses enabling affordable, local, on-demand manufacturing through Manufacturing as a Service (MaaS) by analyzing a Cloud Crafting Platform that connects web shops with nearby 3D printing SMEs. It implements a serverless, Service-Oriented Architecture deployed on Microsoft Azure and evaluates three printer models in a testbed along with a detailed cost-benefit framework. Results show per-ring production costs of about €2.12–€2.24 against suggested ring prices of €10–€15, yielding profit margins of roughly 400–600%, and a weighted profit-sharing scheme distributes revenue across stakeholders. The platform reduces environmental impact by shortening supply chains and eliminating inventory waste, while maintaining scalability and extensibility to other manufacturing technologies. The work provides a practical blueprint for additive MaaS architectures and identifies future research directions in quality control, broader technology integration, and governance of profit-sharing.

Abstract

The global manufacturing landscape is undergoing a fundamental shift from resource-intensive mass production to sustainable, localised manufacturing. This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of a Cloud Crafting Platform that enables Manufacturing as a Service (MaaS) through additive manufacturing technologies. The platform connects web shops with local three-dimensional (3D) printing facilities, allowing customers to purchase products that are manufactured on-demand in their vicinity. We present the platform's Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA), deployment on the Microsoft Azure cloud, and integration with three different 3D printer models in a testbed environment. A detailed cost-benefit analysis demonstrates the economic viability of the approach, which generates significant profit margins. The platform implements a weighted profit-sharing model that fairly compensates all stakeholders based on their investment and operational responsibilities. Our results show that on-demand, localised manufacturing through MaaS is not only technically feasible but also economically viable, while reducing environmental impact through shortened supply chains and elimination of inventory waste. The platform's extensible architecture allows for future integration of additional manufacturing technologies beyond 3D printing.

Paper Structure

This paper contains 14 sections, 5 equations, 5 figures, 2 tables.

Table of Contents

  1. INTRODUCTION
  2. RELATED WORK
  3. Cloud-based Manufacturing
  4. Additive Manufacturing Systems
  5. Business Models, Sustainability and Social Aspects
  6. Summary
  7. CLOUD CRAFTING PLATFORM
  8. Overall Use Case
  9. Prototype Architecture
  10. Testbed Setup
  11. COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS
  12. Evaluation
  13. Discussion
  14. CONCLUSIONS

Figures (5)

  • Figure 1: Overall Use Case where a buying customer initiates the on-demand MaaS process (adapted from Ivkić et al., 2024).
  • Figure 2: Service-Oriented Cloud Crafting Platform Architecture (adapted from Ivkić et al., 2024).
  • Figure 3: Testbed Setup for End-to-End Validation of the MaaS Approach.
  • Figure 4: Testbed Laboratory Setup Simulating a Local SME Production Site.
  • Figure 5: Designed Ring as a Test Product for the Cost-Benefit Analysis.