3D Printing Case Study

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I.          Background

            Over the past decade, technological advancements have improved every sector in business management. It has improved data handling and customer experiences as well. These advancements will be sufficed as a vital principle in fortifying IT foundation development in business aspects. IT infrastructure facilitates corporate development and elevates productivity by managing critical applications necessary for decisiveness within an organization. These applications will be handling customer data that would generate awareness into market trends, analytical tools that would indicate the suitable decisions to be made at each sector and those that would generate business transactions.

            IT infrastructure gains value within the business by facilitating the integration of technological aspects such as computing, networking, monitoring applications and storage of data in a distinctive manner. Networking assists real time data collection and the trading of information and data between producer and its clients. Customer involvement also allows the business to effectively introduce production changes in regard to customer needs.

            Computing allows for the growth and trials of products at low-costa that would add versatility to product improvements at an early stage and eventually product quality. This process would allow for production in large-scale manufacturing and on time delivery to its clients. Computing also allows for growth flexibility in other aspects of business improvements and in clients satisfaction.

            Monitoring, this would allow the business to research trends and consumer patterns in the market in improving employee productivity. Learning the current market trend will ensure that only products that are on demand are the only ones being produced, in which this will avoid inventory cost and production cost as well. Consumption patterns ensures the business in spotting increased consumption rates in specific locations leading to establishment of regional offices in rapidly growing locations while being able to provide an efficient offsite customer support in order to keep up with the business demands. Also, monitoring business employees minimizes the chances of error and makes necessary changes and improvements needed. This would prove a better understanding and handling of the employees and overall business management.

            As a result, the IT infrastructure will help in delivering an efficient, reliable and dependable business infrastructure and improving customer service along the way.

II.        Current IT Infrastructure

            Mark Peterson, who have a 3D printing business, has three 3D printers one of which he acquired in late of 2015 from Best buy for $500 as an initial investments and acquired two wireless 3D printers, which he acquired upon renting space in an industrial park. Mark Peterson also has a Personal Computer (PC), which he uses to download designs from the Internet to use for his 3D printing business. Mark Peterson uses the power of the Internet to advertise his business and uses his Personal Computer (PC) using the application spreadsheet to keep records of his business. Mark Peterson uses a FiOs modem that has a built in wireless router that he uses to set up Internet connection. Also, Mark Peterson's business has a FiOs Internet connectivity and a Microsoft office package installed in his Personal Computer that he uses to keep track of clients orders using the spreadsheet application.

III.       Requirements

            Mark Peterson needs to set up a new IT infrastructure to be able to handle the additional 3D printers and also help managing expanding his business. Mark Peterson plans to establish small business enterprise resource management (ERP) information system that will help in a better and effective operating of supply orders, client orders, employees and invoices. Mark Peterson also needs an office printer to be able to print business invoices and other necessities needed for his business. Also, Mark Peterson is planning to set up a network connectivity that will allow all his employees to be able to access the enterprise resource management (ERP) system, 3D design files and office printers that is located within the business facilities. Mark Peterson also need a storage system that will be able to store and secure business information to manage his business within his facilities and also locally using the Cloud sharing to store a back up his business important files.
IV.       How requirements will be met

a)     To be able to integrate the aspect of 3D printers management into Mark Peterson's business, he would need programming software that can schedule the time of when it needs to run. He needs the software to be able to correspond the tasks that need to be done by a specific printer in each time period and the employee in charge to facilitate the project in order to maximize the output of each project. The IT infrastructure will provide flexibility in data and record keeping that will enhance reliability in daily operations, routine maintenance procedures and as well as analyzing cash flow systems within the business. Also, business management software will be needed for enterprise resource management (ERP) to enhance the storage and interpretation of the collected data.

b)     The business would need a toner printer to facilitate the printing of invoices and other needed documents for the business. Also, establishing network connectivity in order to allow a better flow of business within the business premises. Mark Peterson needs to purchase cellphones for his employees to use that is compatible to the software the business uses. This will allow flexibility and better connections to all his employees to communicate what duties needs to be done. Information availability enhances the organizations competitive position by promoting the rapidity with which dynamic developments can be achieved. Storage methods and components can vary from disc arrays, data-storage control software systems, and access infrastructure. Network data storage allows for high performance, scaling, availability and reliability, long distance transmissions, and overall data control. All applications mentioned would require building fiber channels. Using of Cloud data storage would also be required in order for the business to upload and save needed data online for other employees or involved in the project to see. Usage of disc arrays will allow the transfer of data to tape storage connected to the storage network.

            V.         Data representation and storage

a)     Digital and Numeric Data    -           The designation of digital and numeric date follows the form of numbers and is stored in a hardware computer storage in the business' secondary storage location. Such includes the computer hard drive and other vital external storage such as flash disks.

b)     Audio Data                             -           Audio messages exist in binary form in the computer storage. Such data is available in digital form as audio files and should be stored in a secondary memory such as hard drives.

c)      Video Data                             -           Video data files should be encoded in video file format and should be able to be compressed to allow for an efficient streaming over networks.

d)     Graphics Data                        -           Graphics are a grid of colored dots and are in form of pixels. In the computer storage, a byte can represent a single pixel, in which a shade of grey form white representation. Graphics have a quality representation in computers in a structure of bitmap. Bitmap, which stores every pixel of an image resulting in image,files large amount of bytes.

 

 

References:

Anonymous, (n.d.), What is 3D printing? Retrieved April 2, 2017 from https://www.3dhubs.com/what-is-3d-printing

 

Hsu, J., (May 21, 2013), 3D Printing: What a 3D Printer Is and How It Works, Retrieved April 2, 2017 from http://www.livescience.com/34551-3d-printing.html

 

Grossman, W., (April 4, 2013) Fabricated: The New World of 3D Printing, Retrieved April 2, 2017 from http://www.zdnet.com/article/fabricated-the-new-world-of-3d-printing/