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On this segment of\\xa0Scale with Sergio,\\xa0host and\\xa0Marketscale\\u2019s\\xa0Executive VP of Operations, Sergio Reyes, visits once again with\\xa0Dr. Raymundo Arr\\xf3yave. Boasting a BS degree in Mechanical & Electrical Engineering from the\\xa0Instituto Tecnol\\xf3gico y de Estuidios Superiores de Monterrey, and an MS and PhD in Materials Science from MIT, Dr. Arr\\xf3yave is currently a Professor of Materials Science at\\xa0Texas A&M University. This\\xa0Scale\\xa0installment is not only a follow up of a previous episode where Arr\\xf3yave and Sergio discussed the critical role a secure supply chain can play in a company\\u2019s success, but today, the two long time friends also talk about the positive and lucrative implications\\xa03D printing\\xa0can have on that supply chain.

Crucial to any business that makes and sells products, a supply chain represents the steps it takes to get a product or service from its original state to the customer. It\\u2019s the vital link between a company and its suppliers to produce and distribute a specific product to the final buyer\\u2014covering everything from inventory to sales\\u2014and includes different activities, people, entities, information, and resources.

Organizations are always seeking ways to optimize their supply chain and gain a competitive advantage, however, in today\\u2019s world, supply chains have not only been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but trade agreements and other current world events are affecting the cohesion of global and domestic supply chains on a daily basis. 3D printing technology (or additive manufacturing), though, can provide these organizations with the edge they need to keep supply chains intact and remain competitive in an uncertain world.

For those that don\\u2019t already know, additive manufacturing is the process of making three dimensional (3D) solid objects from a digital file. By incorporating additive manufacturing, supply chains have the flexibility to scale inventory at will while decreasing a business\\u2019 reliance on warehouses. Simply put, when a part or product is required, the order is sent to the 3D printer and produced on the spot, reducing complexity, saving on production costs, enhancing lead times and improving time-to-market.

With an area of expertise that covers everything from computational materials science and simulation to machine learning-assisted materials discovery and design, Arr\\xf3yave\\u2019s recent focus has been on the design of metallic alloys and processes for additive manufacturing. As such, he and Sergio discuss how the creation of an efficient and flexible supply chain is critical, how it can differentiate an organization from its competitors, and the many advantages to a supply chain that can be gleaned through 3D printing.