Because the 3-D printing industry has been growing like gangbusters in recent years, 3-D printing labor force conditions remain seriously constrained. Not only has this affected companies like 3D Systems (DDD +2.26%) and Stratasys (SSYS +1.65%), which require new talent to continue growing, but it's also made life difficult for organizations that want to bring 3-D printing in-house as part of their workflow. Bringing 3-D printing in-house requires a high level of technical expertise, and many organizations simply aren't ready for it.
Businesses in this position have often turned to 3D Systems and Stratasys for 3-D printed parts and consultation through their respective service bureaus, Quickparts and Redeye. In many ways, an industrywide lack of organizational readiness has allowed 3D Systems and Stratasys to generate "warm" leads for future product sales. Longer term, the hope is that 3D Systems and Stratasys can successfully combat organizational readiness -- and therefore drive significant product sales growth from organizations wishing to bring 3-D printing in-house.
In the following video, 3-D printing specialist Steve Heller asks Kevin Ayers, industry manager at SME how he thinks companies should approach the issue of organizational readiness. For the time being, 3D Systems and Stratasys' respective services bureaus should continue benefiting from a general lack of organizational readiness to adopt 3-D printing in-house.
