"The use of additive manufacturing or 3D printing has rapidly increased over the last years after its first appearance at the end of the 20th century. While some manufacturers are already experimenting with the usage of additive  manufacturing, mainly in the automation, aviation and manufacturing industries, there is a lot more potential for additive manufacturing to be used in other branches, too. The opportunities in the medical or educational sector seem to be endless. Additive manufacturing can be seen as a potentially disruptive innovation which can change how items were produced and, especially, supplied before. It is highly assumable that additive manufacturing will have a great impact on subjects like products  themselves, supply chain management and usiness models. Products can be customized quite easily and can be produced in new and futuristic ways with additive manufacturing machines. With the ability to print items on the spot, the need for a stock inventory might become obsolete. This article identifies the impacts and challenges which additive manufacturing offers now and in the future, how these impacts will affect products, productions, supply chains and business models. It also aims at giving an overview about the techniques and possibilities how additive manufacturing can be used at the moment and in the future."