Ford Uses Vending Machine to Distribute 3D-Printed Tools

Ford Motor Co. is using a vending machine to give assembly team leaders access to 3D-printed parts used in F-150 pickup production at its River Rouge factory in Dearborn, Michigan, according to a CNBC report. The machine acts as a central distribution point for items turned out by the plant's additive manufacturing operation. Gregory Foresi, a Ford mechanical engineer who previously ran the plant's 3D-printing lab, said the vending machine makes parts available to team leaders while helping staff keep supplies organized and stocked. Employees request parts and tools through an app, and printing teams help develop designs and set production priorities. The installation is part of a broader Ford effort to produce customized tools faster and, in many cases, at lower cost. The automaker said its 3D-printing program includes more than 200 machines and expects labs at more than 23 plants by year end. Rivian and General Motors also are expanding their use of the technology, CNBC reported. For the vending industry, Ford's deployment is a familiar use case in a growing category: industrial supply vending. Controlled-access machines that dispense tools, parts and consumables give plant managers item-level inventory tracking and accountability without adding staff to a tool crib. The same hardware model underlies the PPE, MRO and industrial vending markets several equipment makers and software providers serve. Software-driven requests and approvals, rather than cash, act as the payment layer, which is what separates this category from consumer-facing unattended retail. Source: Vending Times — https://www.vendingtimes.com/news/ford-uses-vending-machine-to-distribute-3d-printed-tools/