3-D printing technology continues to mature rapidly, and expansive thinking on its application is called for in practically any industry. The strength and accuracy of 3-D-made products was demonstrated this week by Solid Concepts, a 3-D engineering firm that demonstrated the range-worthiness of a metal gun requiring seven minutes of assembly after its parts were produced.

Last year USC professor Behrokh Khoshnevis presented a TED talk on building a 3-D printed, 2,500 square foot concrete house in approximately 20 hours that has neared a million views.

Forward thinking on the technology’s application should be considered not just in manufacturing and construction, but on the horizon for any logistics, distribution, facilities, or global business environment.

Here are a couple of relevant Gigaom Research reports on the topic:

http://research.gigaom.com/report/retails-reinvention-technologys-impact-on-todays-supply-chain/

http://research.gigaom.com/report/sector-roadmap-hardware-design-innovation/disruption-vectors-and-company-analysis/additive-manufacturing/