Why do so many additive manufacturing (AM) initiatives stall, miss ROI targets, or quietly disappear—despite great technology and smart engineers?

In this episode of The Additive Advantage Podcast, hosts Dani Mason and Shon Anderson cut through the hype to unpack the real reasons AM programs fail—and what successful organizations do differently.

Spoiler: it’s rarely the printer.

From misaligned incentives and weak business cases to overlooked human dynamics and poor partner selection, this conversation dives deep into what actually determines success or failure in AM, advanced manufacturing, and even AI-driven initiatives.

You’ll hear real-world stories from aerospace, medical, life sciences, and manufacturing leaders—plus practical, no-BS advice for executives, engineers, and transformation leaders who want AM initiatives that hit the P&L, not just the lab.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why “can we?” vs. “should we?” is the most important AM question
• The #1 mistake companies make when launching AM programs
• How hidden people and organizational gaps derail promising initiatives
• Why most AM pilots never make it to production—or the P&L
• How to think about total cost of ownership, not just cost per part
• The role of trust, transparency, and partnership in successful transformation
• Why picking the right partner matters more than picking the right printer
• What AM leaders can learn from AI adoption and change management
• How to future-proof your AM strategy in a rapidly evolving landscape

Who should watch this:

• Manufacturing executives, GMs, and SVPs
• Additive manufacturing and advanced manufacturing leaders
• Engineering, supply chain, and quality professionals
• Anyone responsible for technology transformation, ROI, or innovation strategy

If you’ve ever asked:

• Why didn’t our AM initiative deliver the results we expected?
• How do we know if additive is the right solution?
• How do we de-risk AM before spending millions?

This episode is for you.

🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts & Spotify
📺 Watch on YouTube
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About the Show
The Additive Advantage Podcast explores what it really takes to turn additive manufacturing into a scalable, performance-driven business capability. Hosted by Dani Mason and Shon Anderson, the show features real conversations with leaders accountable for outcomes — not hype.

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About B9Creations
The Additive Advantage Podcast is produced by B9Creations as part of our commitment to moving additive manufacturing beyond experimentation and into real-world production. The podcast reflects the same outcome-focused, execution-driven approach we bring to our work with customers.

At B9Creations, we help organizations operationalize additive manufacturing as a strategic capability through advanced 3D printing platforms, software, and the Additive Advantage Model. The conversations on this pod...