Hybrid education and training approaches enabling workforce development in additive manufacturing

Additive Manufacturing (AM) has gained wide attention in the past two decades and emerged as a significant method in the manufacturing sector. Advancements in AM have enhanced productivity, reduced lead times, and improved part quality while maintaining cost-effectiveness. Despite advancements in materials, technologies, and parameter optimization, the widespread AM adoption is limited by a lack of skilled workforce. This research presents a hybrid learning approach to address this gap through curricula and hands-on training. The proposed framework includes hybrid educational and training approaches in polymer-based FFF, SLA, SLS, and Metal FFF technologies toward the development of a workforce skilled in AM