4D-printing

Once 4D printing is implemented within Ikea, it will have a great impact on all business processes. To describe these changes in business processes, the PCOI model is used.  Figure 1: PCOI-model Process The manufacturing process of furniture will change. The production will have an automated 4D-printer that will need less people to operate than other machines. For wooden furiniture the production process starts with gluing together, then the surface is scrubbed, sawn, painted and drilled. The 4D-printers run autonomous so there won't be a lot of operators needed. Only the supply of materials and removal of the end-product is needed. The production of one product will take a relatively long time so to make a mass production a larger surface factory is needed. The materials which the printer will use for the furniture are compactly packed. Therefore, the warehouse for the materials won't have to be big. Also, the end-product is packed in a smaller box than needed before. The ware...

  IKEA wants to be affordable an accessible for as many people as possible, so they focus on the total market.    Figure 1: Generic strategies To achieve this vision that almost everybody can afford IKEA they have a focus on reducing the cost. They have various ways to reduce the cost: A reverse design process: "Where almost all competitor brands go by the book and follow the conventional process of choosing a design theme, making a storyboard, procuring the materials, putting together the design and then pricing the item according to the cost incurred, IKEA does the exact opposite. " Flat packaging: The products mostly fit in a flat box wat makes the transport and storage cost al lot cheaper and the customer assembles it at home. Bulk production: Because IKEA has the same product in each store, they produce in massive bulk orders. This way they can get discounts from the suppliers. Unique construction technique: ‘’They are always innovating new techniques and methods to ...

4D-printing of products is not used in production yet. For IKEA the market will stay the same with the new products.  Market IKEA is in a global market with stores all over the world. In total IKEA has 460 stores in 62 markets, with that IKEA is the world largest furniture company. They are famous for their flat packing and leaving the assembly for the customer. IKEA serves the unique functional needs of each target audience, with special attention to 16-34-year-old adults. It has solutions for: Bachelors Single people not living at home Newly married couples Families with the youngest child under six Older married couples with dependent children No children families Retired Students Mono-segment positioning. It appeals to the needs and wants of a single customer segment that is cost-conscious and prefers value for money. Adaptive positioning. It believes in periodically repositioning products and services to adapt to changes in customer preferences. Its Swedish furniture chain con...

The production of many companies increasingly requires flexible and localized production in order to respond to the market as quickly as possible, and 4D printing could be a major transformation in this. Mass production can be flexible and customized, costs and complexity of products can be reduced by allowing the products to take different forms during transport, storage and production. The adaptability of the products will provide new services and the overall developments of 4D printing will provide new approaches to business models and process strategy. In short, the arrival of 4D printing could help the entire industrial strategy to a higher level. An evolution in new production technology would also bring about a new way of thinking within companies, especially the way we perceive objects. The use of 4D printing will change the way we view fundamental transformation functions. In particular, how it looks at bending, folding, twisting, expansion/contraction, property and change o...

Figure 1 : 4D-printing example Because 4D printing is still a young technology, there are a number of challenges that need to be addressed before the technology can be implemented on a large scale. And the 3D printing equipment, which can also be used for 4D printing, is not yet profitable in combination with the high costs of the smart materials that can retain memory and time. Secondly, the reliability and longevity of the memory-containing materials still need to be investigated. These materials are currently still used for research, so there is still a gap with actual scale application. Because this is not yet clear, it is also difficult to determine the potential environmental effect. If the technology turns out to be much more polluting than other technologies that can make transport and storage more efficient, then the technology may not be able to deliver its added value in the production industry. This is because customers are increasingly demanding a product that is produce...

By using 4D printing, the production method can also be examined. For example, a dress has currently been made that can be printed 85% smaller in size using 4D printing and can therefore be made as a whole. However, the material of this dress is not yet very comfortable, but the dress can move smoothly. If this technology is further developed, it will have a major impact on the production industry. Figure 1 : Folded 4D-printed dress This means that products that can now be made in one go simplify entire processes. For example, there is no longer any need for an assembly step in the process because products are already completely ready for the printing process. This would also ensure that much more can be done based on printers and therefore fewer employees are needed in production processes. In addition, the technology could be used for clothing, shoes and (car) tires, among other things, to adapt the grip or moisture permeability to the environment. If we look more specifically at t...

So far, 4D printing has had a major impact on the near future in two ways. Firstly,  by offering an adaptable solution between two phases of use, such as a product that functions differently in a humid environment than in a drier environment. At the end of 2022, Marc del Pozo Puig designed a tiny flower that changes color as he breathes on the flower(which changes the humidity in the air). In particular, the application of light and humidity in the nano composites is better for a bidirectional effect of 4D printing. As shown in the figures below, the color of the flower changes based on the humidity. The video below illiustrates 'smart ink' that PhD student Marc del Pozo Puig developed with a micro flower changing when humidity changes. Video 1:  'smart ink' that PhD student Marc del Pozo Puig developed And the other impact will be  the transformation scenario that can influence the combination of production and use phases. An example of this is the transport of...

When products can be produced with a 4D printer, this can provide many advantages. This mainly involves saving space when storing products, but also reducing transport costs. Products such as a lampshade are produced and shipped flat, but deform to their primary shape as soon as they come into contact with, for example, a certain temperature. Figure 1: C omputational folding of a lamp In the longer term, it may even be possible that Ikea customers will no longer have to assemble products. For example, a 4D printed chair from IKEA can be designed in a flat state. Once the customer receives the chair and exposes it to certain conditions (such as heat), the chair's material can react and spring into the correct shape. In this way, the customer would receive an easily assembleable piece of furniture, without having to use tools or complicated assembly instructions. The assembly process can become easier, because the object can transform itself without the need for additional assembly o...

4D printing refers to the technology of printing three-dimensional objects that are able to change their shape or function due to external stimuli, such as heat, humidity, magnetic fields or light.  Within IKEA, 4D printing could be applied to create products that can be shipped in a compact and flat manner, but that can self-assemble once exposed to a certain stimulus. This could result in more efficient packaging and transportation, as well as simplifying assembly for the customer. For example, a 4D printed chair from IKEA can be designed in a flat state. Once the customer receives the chair and exposes it to certain conditions (such as heat), the chair's material can react and spring into the correct shape. In this way, the customer would receive an easy, self-assembled piece of furniture, without having to use tools or complicated assembly instructions. The assembly process can become easier, because the object can transform itself without the need for additional assembly o...