**5.3 3D printing**

Companies are integrating critical parts of their supply chains in order to have better controls and increased suitability efficiencies. 3D printing has become a perfect initiative for companies to regain control of their own supply chains. The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted how companies have become extremely dependent on outsourced manufacturers located in places far from where their markets are.

**Figure 2.** *Sustainable supply chains 4IR. Source: Authors illustration.*

3D printing and point of sale production can have a dramatic impact in the sustainable strategies that companies are putting forward. One of the benefits that can be identified from 3D printing is the decrease in long-distance shipping and fossil fuel consumption. The idea is that as long-distance shipping decreases, the last mile will increase due to production sites being closer to final consumers. Also, 3D printing will have a long-term impact in physical warehousing as the need for spare parts and storage will be minimised. Parts will be replaced by blueprints that can be used when required. These actions will save resources currently needed to run facilities and greatly reduce the waste coming from obsolete stock and unused spare parts.

It is worth mentioning that 3D printing can be more energy intensive than traditional methods, but overall, across the whole supply chain there is a greater positive impact when considering not just the manufacturing processes.

Since Porter's value chain framework was introduced in 1985, supply chains have evolved with environmental and societal concerns becoming more significant. Cashflow as opposed to profitability has also become a critical indicator for a healthy business. The advent of 4IR has catalysed this trend, promising accelerated positive outcomes if done right. **Figure 2** above shows a transformed value chain whose players are more integrated in a complex network than before, enhancing visibility and thus offering the potential for flexibility and agility in response to changing circumstances.
