Context: Today, many organizations in global market now frequently scan and assess their environment as consumers’ taste and preference became the sole target. Consumers’ preferred product of yesterday might unexpectedly devalue or be perceived staled the next day, due to the varieties, quality options and advancement in information technology from other firms. 3D printing technology describes a series of digital manufacturing technologies, which produce component parts layer-by-layer through the additional use of materials. 3D printing technology consists of three core phases that is, the modelling, the printing and the finishing of the product. In the modelling, 3D printing technology could proffer additional improvements depending on the engaged manufacturing method. Objectives: This research seeks to critically evaluate the influence of information technology on 3D printing for product development in Lagos, Nigeria. In this project, variables such as product design tools, decision support systems and file transfer protocol were categorized into three phases, namely; discovery, development and commercialization as the major sub-construct measuring the independent variable (Information Technology) on the dependent variable (3D printing and product development). Methods: The research was purely quantitative as questionnaires were used as the major evaluating instrument under descriptive and cross sectional research design (survey methods). The population consisted of seven selected printing press companies in Lagos, Nigeria. The survey was used to generate responses related to the research questions and objectives. Results: The result of the study reveals that product design tools in the discovery and development phase, the decision support system in the development and commercialization phase, and the file transfer protocols in the discovery, development and commercialization phase have significant influence on 3D printing for product development. Also, it was found that product design tools in the commercialization phase and in the discovery phase of decision support system do not have significant influence on 3D printing for product development. Conclusions: The study concludes that product design tools in the discovery and development phase, the decision support system in the development and commercialization phase, and the file transfer protocols in the discovery, development and commercialization phase have significant influence on 3D printing for product development. Thus, the study recommends that there is need for more innovations, there is need to standardise packages for loan applications, which will act as a decision support system for the employees in order to make consistent applications for loans, credit analysis, etc. Finally, more research work can be devoted through the use of other related textbooks and journals.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UPSALLA1/oai:DiVA.org:bth-14164 |
| Date | January 2016 |
| Creators | Onyeche, Ikechukwu |
| Publisher | Blekinge Tekniska Högskola, Institutionen för kreativa teknologier |
| Source Sets | DiVA Archive at Upsalla University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Student thesis, info:eu-repo/semantics/bachelorThesis, text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
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