What are the pros of additive manufacturing?

• A. Rapid prototyping, waste reduction, and inventory reduction
• B. Increased tooling costs
• C. Slower lead times
• D. Limited design freedom

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that additive manufacturing offers practical, time-saving, and cost-saving advantages in how parts are created. Rapid prototyping shines because you can turn a digital design into a physical object quickly without expensive molds or tooling, allowing fast testing and iteration. Waste reduction comes from building parts layer by layer with material only where needed, which minimizes scrap compared with subtractive methods that cut away material. Inventory reduction is another big plus because you can manufacture parts on demand, reducing the need to stock large quantities and lowering storage costs and obsolescence.

The other options don’t fit as advantages: increasing tooling costs isn’t a benefit, and additive manufacturing often lowers tooling needs; lead times are typically shortened for prototypes and small runs rather than lengthened; and additive design freedom is a strong point, not something that’s limited.