3D Systems has announced a significant milestone in the commercialization of its Oqton Manufacturing OS. This comprehensive solution is designed to enable on-demand additive manufacturing (AM) within regulated industries, facilitating full factory-floor workflow integration. Baker Hughes, a leading energy technology company, has fully deployed Oqton Manufacturing OS in its Houston, Texas, facility, marking an important achievement in the companies’ ongoing partnership.
Baker Hughes and Oqton, a wholly owned subsidiary of 3D Systems, initially entered into a commercial software agreement in March 2023. The integration of Oqton’s technology into Baker Hughes’ manufacturing environment is a key step in the companies’ shared vision of decentralized manufacturing. This deployment highlights how Oqton Manufacturing OS accelerates the design and production of additively manufactured parts, increasing efficiency while supporting regulatory compliance.
Oqton Manufacturing OS: Transforming Additive Workflows
Oqton Manufacturing OS provides an end-to-end solution for managing additive workflows, offering real-time monitoring to support decentralized production. Baker Hughes began implementing the Oqton system in June 2024, allowing the company to scale additive manufacturing within its operations without sacrificing product quality or user experience. The system enables Baker Hughes to optimize production, reduce support structure investment, and monitor key performance indicators across the manufacturing workflow.
The deployment has already yielded significant benefits. Baker Hughes achieved a 98% reduction in engineering time spent on active monitoring, saving 136 hours per printer annually. Additionally, automated reporting through Oqton’s software has led to a 98% reduction in root cause analysis time. Real-time actionable alerts during production reduced scrap-related costs by 18%, further enhancing production efficiency.
Oqton Manufacturing OS streamlines the transition from prototyping to full-scale, high-quality production, ensuring complete traceability from raw material to finished component. This level of traceability is essential for high-reliability applications within regulated industries. The platform manages and optimizes every stage of the production process, from order intake and design preparation to production monitoring and certification, helping manufacturers scale efficiently while maintaining strict quality control.
Integrated Solutions for Advanced Manufacturing
Key features of Oqton Manufacturing OS include:
- – Order Management: Integrated customer and supplier portals facilitate capacity planning, demand forecasting, and approvals, enhancing order management.
- – Engineering Solutions: With 3DXpert, Oqton offers design for additive manufacturing (DfAM), build preparation, simulation, inspection, and digital rights management, ensuring functional efficiency.
- – Digital Warehousing: Multifacility workflow management and user access control provide streamlined digital asset management across multiple sites.
- – Manufacturing Execution System (MES): Oqton’s MES platform tracks operations, manages production, and ensures traceability throughout the entire process.
- – Production Monitoring: Analytical-driven and deep-learning-based capabilities detect and alert real-time anomalies, ensuring high-quality outcomes.
Reji Puthenveetil, EVP of Additive Solutions and Chief Commercial Officer at 3D Systems, expressed satisfaction with the deployment: “Oqton Manufacturing OS’ holistic approach, combined with Baker Hughes’ industrial expertise, showcases the real-world impact of this unique solution. We’re eager to see continued adoption as we drive automation, efficiency, and cost savings in complex manufacturing environments.”
Jim Apostolides, Senior Vice President of Enterprise Operational Excellence at Baker Hughes, echoed this sentiment, noting that the system improves efficiency by automating complex processes while maintaining stringent quality controls.
Expanding Opportunities for Additive Manufacturing
The market for manufacturing operations management software, according to Spherical Insights, was valued at $16.4 billion in 2022 and is projected to exceed $52.7 billion by 2032. Oqton Manufacturing OS plays a key role in shaping the future of this industry by connecting applications and machines across multiple sites. This connectivity enables manufacturers to collaborate more efficiently and reduce time to market while maintaining high-quality production standards.
Through its deep experience in regulated industries, Oqton, alongside 3D Systems, provides tailored solutions to help manufacturers meet these challenges. The integration of Oqton Manufacturing OS allows companies to streamline their workflows, increase throughput, and enhance overall operational efficiency while reducing costs.