Certified Production & Operations Manager (POM) Practice Exam

Additive manufacturing (3-D printing) is largely an extension of which technology?

1. Computer-aided design

2. Conventional machining

3. Simulation software

4. Material science

The correct answer is: Computer-aided design

Additive manufacturing, or 3-D printing, is fundamentally connected to computer-aided design (CAD) technology because CAD provides the digital blueprints needed to create objects. The process of 3-D printing involves interpreting these digital models to build physical parts layer by layer. CAD systems allow for complex designs that can be easily modified and optimized before production, making them integral to the additive manufacturing process. The ties to CAD also highlight how advanced modeling software can lead to innovative designs that traditional methods may not easily accommodate. While elements such as material science and conventional machining are important in understanding the overall framework and capabilities of manufacturing technologies, they do not serve as the foundational technology that drives the design aspect of additive manufacturing as directly as CAD does. Thus, the skills and processes used in CAD are essential for effective 3-D printing.