Engineers Without Borders - Printing Without Borders

Led volunteer initiative to support medical teams during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Context

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, medical supply chains were severely disrupted. PPE shortages left medical teams without adequate protection. Engineers Without Borders mobilized to fill the gap using distributed 3D printing.

Initiative

Led a team producing 3D printed face shields and mask components for medical teams when commercial supplies were unavailable.

Team Coordination

• Recruited and organized volunteers with 3D printing capabilities
• Established production targets and quality standards
• Coordinated distributed manufacturing across multiple locations

Production Logistics

• Managed material sourcing when supply chains were strained
• Organized collection and delivery to medical facilities
• Tracked production output across contributors

Technical Optimization

• Evaluated and standardized print parameters for consistent quality
• Balanced print speed against structural integrity
• Iterated on designs based on feedback from medical staff

Impact

• Rapid deployment: Delivered protective equipment within days when commercial channels took weeks
• Scale: Coordinated production across multiple printers and volunteers
• Gap-filling: Provided critical supplies during peak shortage periods
• Knowledge sharing: Documented processes for other volunteer groups to replicate

Skills Demonstrated

• Crisis leadership and rapid decision-making
• Volunteer coordination and motivation
• Technical problem-solving under pressure
• Logistics and supply chain improvisation

Technologies

3D Printing (FDM), Design iteration, Volunteer coordination, Logistics management