Evaluating 3D Printers Using Data Envelopment Analysis

Abstract

Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) is an established powerful mathematical programming technique, which has been employed quite extensively for assessing the efficiency/performance of various physical or virtual and simple or complex production systems, as well as of consumer and industrial products and technologies. The purpose of the present study is to investigate whether DEA may be employed for evaluating the technical efficiency/performance of 3D printers, an advanced manufacturing technology of increasing importance for the manufacturing sector. For this purpose, a representative sample of 3D printers based on Fused Deposition Modeling technology is examined. The technical factors/parameters of 3D printers, which are incorporated in the DEA, are investigated and discussed in detail. DEA evaluation results compare favorably with relevant benchmarks from experts, indicating that the suggested DEA technique in conjunction with technical and expert evaluation could be employed for evaluating the performance of a highly technological system, such as the 3D printer.