Additive Manufacturing vs Conventional Manufacturing

Parameter	Additive Manufacturing	Conventional Manufacturing
Material waste	Generally low because material is deposited or fused only where required. Some waste can still arise from supports and post-processing.	Often higher in subtractive processes because material is removed from a larger block; machining chips are generated.
Geometric complexity	Can produce highly complex geometries, internal channels, lattice structures and customized shapes with comparatively few manufacturing constraints.	Complex shapes may require multiple operations, special machines, fixtures or assemblies and can be difficult or expensive to manufacture.
Tooling requirements	Usually requires little or no dedicated tooling; the digital model can be directly processed for production.	Frequently requires dies, molds, cutting tools, jigs, fixtures or other dedicated tooling, especially for mass production.

Conclusion

Additive manufacturing is especially advantageous for complex, customized and low-volume parts because it reduces material waste and tooling dependence. Conventional manufacturing remains highly efficient for many standardized, high-volume products where established tooling and production methods provide low unit cost.