Marketing Currents - Business and Marketing Current Events

Your next Apple Watch might be made with a 3D printer

Apple Inc. is testing the use of 3D printers to produce the steel chassis used by some of its upcoming smartwatches, according to people with knowledge of the matter, heralding a major change to how the company manufactures products.

Click here to read the story at fortune.com.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is innovation?
  2. Do you think the 3D printer is an example of innovation? Why or why not?
  3. Can you think of any examples of products that you have heard of that use 3D printing as part of the manufacturing process?
  4. Why would Apple be interested in testing 3D printers?
  5. Why do you think they have been keeping that information private?
  6. Why do you think they are only testing them for watches?
  7. What is product development?
  8. What are manufacturing costs?
  9. Why might manufacturing costs be a consideration during the product development process?
  10. What is a product life cycle?
  11. At what stage in the product life cycle is the Apple Watch?
  12. Why does Apple regularly introduce new features when new products (devices) launch?
Chris Lindauer
After working for nearly a decade in professional sports, Chris Lindauer, formed Sports Career Consulting to provide unique sports business education opportunities in and out of the classroom. In the eighteen years (and counting) that followed, Chris has inspired thousands of students to pursue their passions and explore the career of their dreams. He currently lives in Portland, Oregon with his wife, two teenage daughters and their dog.

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