Case study summary:

In late $2015,$ Mark Peterson acquired a $3$D printer and found potential in creating assistive and accessibility devices. This interest turned into a full$-$fledged business, requiring him to expand his operations. Mark plans to add more $3$D printers and a $3$D scanner, as well as hire additional employees. To facilitate this growth, he aims to set up an IT infrastructure, implement an enterprise resource management system, and provide mobile access to his employees. Mark also intends to store his production and management files locally while using cloud storage for backup.

In addition to creating more $3$D printed products, he needs to be able to manage his customer orders, supplies, employees, etc. He wants to replace his spreadsheet of customer orders with a small business enterprise resource management $($ERP$)$ information system in his facility to help him manage his business effectively. Review the section of the Case Study entitled "Mark's Expansion Plan" and the additional information provided below to identify all of the requirements Mark has laid out. He wants you to tell him what components he will need and what they do

Mark expansion plan:

"The facility in the industrial park that I am currently using has a manager's office, a large supply storage area, a loading dock, and a large open area where the $3$D printing operation occurs. When supplies are unloaded and put into the storage area, I would like for my employees to be able to update the inventory system $($which would be a part of the ERP system$).$ When an employee takes supplies from the storage area to be used in the printing and packaging processes, I want them to update the inventory system. I currently accept customers' orders via the telephone and email $($through my Gmail account; I have my email address on my Facebook page$).$ My FiOS internet connection drop is in my office area. When I get the ERP system, I want to be able to enter the customer orders into the ERP system. I also need to use the ERP to store my employee records and to have payroll information. Finally, I also want to keep all my financial records $($orders$,$ invoices, etc.$)$ in the ERP. As I said earlier $($in the Case Study$),$ I want my employees to be able to access the $3$D printing systems through a mobile device of some sort so they can move around the facility."

Future IT infrastructure $-$ Mark has two fundamental IT needs for his business. He needs to be able to create the $3$D printed products and he needs to be able to manage customer orders, supplies, employees, etc. To help him understand each component, including those he already has in place, you will:

a$.$ List and describe the components $($hardware$,$ software, security devices, network devices, wired$/$wireless devices, internet, and databases, as appropriate$)$ needed for the computer system$($s$)$ to be used to create the $3$D printed items.

b$.$ List and describe the components $($hardware$,$ software, security devices, network devices, wired$/$wireless devices, internet, and databases, as appropriate$)$ Mark will need to implement a small business enterprise resource management $($ERP$)$ information system in his facility to help him manage his business effectively. Some of these will be the same as some components listed for the $3$D system.

c$.$ Explain the relationships among the $3$D computer system, the information system, and the communication networks that support both types of systems and how they fit together to provide Mark all the IT capability he needs to run his business.