Wi3DP releases third Diversity for Additive Manufacturing report
The new report broadens the scope of diversity to include gender, ethnicity, age and more
Women in 3D Printing has just released the third edition of the Diversity for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM) report, coinciding with International Women’s Day 2019. The new report, authored by AM journalist Sarah Goehrke, offers a broader and more in depth look at the AM industry’s workforce, with insights from various 3D printing companies and individuals in the industry.
The semi-annual DfAM report first launched in April 2018, becoming the first study within the emerging AM sector to specifically address the question of diversity in the industry. As the brainchild of Nora Toure’s Wi3DP, an organization dedicated to highlighting women in the AM industry and providing a community for them, the first reports focused largely on gender disparities in 3D printing. The third edition of the report, while still placing an important focus on this issue, broadens its scope to address ethnicity, age and educational background.
“Working on the DfAM reports has been a roller coaster,” commented Goehrke. “There’s been some incredible feedback and support, which make all the work that goes into them more than worth it. It’s shown that this is a resource that the industry wants.”
As Goehrke explains, the growth of the report over the past year and the participation of a broad range of companies have demonstrated that insights into who is working within AM are wanted and are valuable to the industry at large.
Importantly, the reports also take into account the various interviews conducted with women in the industry through Wi3DP, adding a very human touch to the study. The combination of these personal elements with statistics and Goehrke’s astute analysis result in a highly relevant and invaluable resource for the industry.
Goehrke added: “I’m so grateful each time a company responds, as we cannot build up data-driven resources without gathering data. We’ve had the broadest response for this latest report, with information from 3D printer manufacturers, materials suppliers, software companies, and consulting firms. We’re always looking for more information and welcome any numbers and insights.”
The third edition of the Diversity for Additive Manufacturing report can be downloaded here. Companies interested in contributing to future iterations of the report can do so here.
