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22 SMT Magazine • January 2015 "A cynic," according to Irish playwright and humorist Oscar Wilde, "is a man who knows the price of everything and the value of noth- ing." Anyone who has spent any time dealing with purchasing agents could easily find a way to apply that same definition to those poor souls whose job it is to get the best price (i.e., lowest cost) on everything they purchase for their companies. The problem is that they are not required to make value judgments about the things they purchase; they just need to get those items in the door within budget and on time. This is a tragedy of sorts because if they possessed a better understanding of the nature of the products they purchase, those individu- als could well be making informed decisions that could more positively impact the bottom line of their companies. Knowing the value of a product or technology is a key element in mak- ing the right decision. Appreciating the value by Joe fjelstad VeRDANT eleCTRoNiCS 3D Printing in Electronics–a Perspective proposition of an element of business is ever more important as the rate of change that sur- rounds an industry continues to accelerate. This brings us to one of the current buzz subjects in our industry: 3D printing. Understanding what 3D printing is and what its value is to a com- pany and that company's ability to hold or im- prove its place in the industry is vital. First, a question to ponder: What is the most valuable factor in business and life? The customary response is often money or capital. Money is, after all, the lifeblood of industry and key to a life free from want. Without capi- tal investment there is no business and without money on an individual scale one might find themselves out on the streets. On the bright side, capital/money can often be raised if there is a believable opportunity to recoup its invest- ment and ideally some amount of profit and an investor who shares that belief. There are also social safety nets which exist (even if imperfect) to help out the unfortunate individual lacking funds. Feature