Walmart is known for a lot of things: being the largest retailer, public corporation, and private employer in the world, being anti-union, suppressing worker wages, using sweatshops, and, of course, its low, low prices. What it’s not generally known for is 3D printing. That last bit may soon change as the CEO of Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Doug McMillon, said that the company may use the technology for creating supplies and could even acquire a 3D printer manufacturer.
McMillon said at the Code Conference in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, “3D printing is interesting to me. We can use 3D printing over time for replacement parts.” When asked if Wal-Mart might consider the purchase of 3D printing companies, the CEO said that it might be a logical move “in some cases” and that the company is, in general, increasing its acquisitions and partnerships, “We’ve been more acquisitive lately, especially for talent. And our pace of acquisitions, I think, is going to accelerate.” Though the CEO isn’t implying that Wal-Mart will purchase a 3DP company, it’s not off the table. The imagination runs wild with who Wal-Mart would want to purchase – a company big enough to have a largish presence in the marketplace, as well as a pretty straightforward and reliable machine. Any thoughts?
Whoever Wal-Mart would go after, if anyone, pursuing 3D printing makes sense for the multinational. 3D printing has been suggested as a threat to suppliers of traditionally manufactured goods, like Walmart. Why head to the store when you can download and print what you want right at home? Similarly, online retailers were seen as a threat to big box stores, but, even since the rise of Amazon, the company’s stock has hit record highs. This could partially be attributed to Wal-Mart’s e-commerce presence, which has kept them apace with the times. And, just as Amazon has added 3D printing to its own online platform, to adapt to potential shifts in the way we consume goods, it makes sense for Walmart to do the same.
In other words, Walmart would be covering its bases by incorporating 3D printing into its business, while simultaneously riding the 3DP hype and bringing customers into stores to see the technology in action. As McMillon says in his interview with Re/code‘s Kara Swisher (highlights below), “We have had some tests in this country and a couple of others, just bringing 3D printers into the store to show them to customers and create a mini-me, a statue of you, and we can’t keep them in stock.”
Then again, you’ll also hear the CEO talk about how important it is for the company to maintain a sustainable business model to stick around for the next 50 years. But, if the company really cared about sustaining itself, it would adopt more progressive employment and sourcing practices.
Source: Bloomberg
