Page 145 - Using MIS

Hardware, Chapter

Software, and 4

Mobile Systems

Jason Green, CEO of AllRoad Parts, is meeting with the committee
he asked to investigate the 3D printing opportunity. Committee members Kelly
Summers, CFO; Lucas Massey, IT director; Drew Mills, operations manager; and
Addison Lee, head of purchasing, are with him around a conference table.
Jason starts the meeting.
“First, I have to thank Drew for all the hard work he put into setting up the new
printer, experimenting with it, and teaching us about the reality of 3D printing. We’re
not manufacturers, 3D technology won’t give us the processes and IS we need, and
the parts we could produce may not stand up to the rough treatment off-roading
involves. So, now we know that 3D printing isn’t for us . . . at least not right now.”
There’s a pause in the conversation, and then Kelly speaks up. “Well, we all
agree about that, but we do think that, as a supplier, there is something related
to 3D printing that we could sell to our customers.”
Jason is curious; that’s not what he expected Kelly to say. “OK, I’ll bite,” he
says. “What is it?”
“Designs,” she replies. “Part designs. We don’t want to manufacture parts
because we don’t want to get into the quality issues that Drew identified, but our
customers might want to manufacture parts on their own 3D printers.”