• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.494-507
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• 2017

A three-dimensional physical part can be fabricated from a three-dimensional digital model in a layer-wise manner via additive manufacturing (AM) technology, which is different from the conventional subtractive manufacturing technology. Numerous studies have been conducted to take advantage of the AM opportunities to penetrate bespoke custom product markets, functional engineering part markets, volatile low-volume markets, and spare part markets. Nevertheless, materials issues, machines issues, product issues, and qualification/certification issues still prevent the AM technology from being extensively adopted in industries. The present study briefly reviews the standard classification, technological structures, industrial applications, technological advances, and qualification/certification activities of the AM technology. The economics, productivity, quality, and reliability of the AM technology should be further improved to pass through the technology adoption lifecycle of innovation technology. The AM technology is continuously evolving through the introduction of PM materials, hybridization of AM and conventional manufacturing technologies, adoption of process diagnostics and control systems, and enhanced standardization of the whole lifecycle qualification and certification methodology.

• International journal of advanced smart convergence
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.72-80
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• 2021

Metaverse is an immersive 3D virtual environment, a true virtual artificial community in which avatars act as the user's alter ego and interact with each other. If we do not manage the hype for the metaverse, which has recently been receiving a surge in interest, the metaverse will fail to cross the chasm. In this study, to provide stakeholders with insights for the successful introduction and growth of the 3D immersive next-generation virtual world, metaverse, we analyzed user-side interest, media-side interest, and research-side interest. For this purpose, in this study, search traffic, news frequency and topic, and research article frequency and topic were analyzed. The methodology and results of this study are expected to provide insight for the stable success of metaverse transformation and the coexistence of the real world and the virtual world through hyper-connection and hyper-convergence.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.256-267
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• 2020

Metal additive manufacturing (AM) technologies are classified into two groups according to the consolidation mechanisms and densification degrees of the as-built parts. Densified parts are obtained via a single-step process such as powder bed fusion, directed energy deposition, and sheet lamination AM technologies. Conversely, green bodies are consolidated with the aid of binder phases in multi-step processes such as binder jetting and material extrusion AM. Green-body part shapes are sustained by binder phases, which are removed for the debinding process. Chemical and/or thermal debinding processes are usually devised to enhance debinding kinetics. The pathways to final densification of the green parts are sintering and/or molten metal infiltration. With respect to innovation types, the multi-step metal AM process allows conventional powder metallurgy manufacturing to be innovated continuously. Eliminating cost/time-consuming molds, enlarged 3D design freedom, and wide material selectivity create opportunities for the industrial adoption of multi-step AM technologies. In addition, knowledge of powders and powder metallurgy fuel advances of multi-step AM technologies. In the present study, multi-step AM technologies are briefly introduced from the viewpoint of the entire manufacturing lifecycle.

• Information Systems Review
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.95-113
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• 2017

The advent of information communication technology or the Fourth Industrial Revolution facilitated the fusion of equipment and management systems, such as Manufacturing Execution System, Enterprise Resource Planning, and Product Lifecycle Management, in the successful implementation of smart factories. The government supports the early adoption of these systems in small and medium companies to enhance their global competitiveness in producing products that can be recognized in a dramatically changing manufacturing environment. This study introduces smart factories to improve company competitiveness and address influences from the government assistance, CEO leadership, external consultancy, and organizational participation. We analyzed 101 results received from the questionnaires circulated to small- and medium-sized manufacturing companies. Given a successful smart factory implementation, company competitiveness is the factor that mostly influences organizational participation, government assistance, external consultancy, and CEO leadership. This study suggests several perspectives to implement a smart factory, which is the most important aspect of company competitiveness.