Refine
Document Type
Language
- English (4)
Has Fulltext
- no (4)
Reviewed
Keywords
Institute
Is part of the Bibliography
- yes (4)
Additive Manufacturing (AM) is an important aspect of Industry 4.0 but many manufacturing companies are still uncertain of how to make the most of this new technology. As a result, there is a growing trend towards provision of AM consulting services. This paper gives an overview of
the current state of this sector, proposes strategic requirements and describes challenges and opportunities within the AM consulting service
industry.
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to identify challenges faced by industrial firms at different phases of adoption of 3D printing (3DP), and outline how 3DP service providers can help address these challenges.
Design/methodology/approach
Separate interview questionnaires for 3DP users and 3DP service providers were used to conduct semi-structured interviews.
Findings
The key 3DP adoption challenges are as follows: creating a business case; difficulty in using different materials; optimising the process for specific parts; lack of “plug and play” solutions offered by equipment manufacturers; limited availability of training and educational support; poor end product quality; machine breakdowns; and high cost of maintenance and spare components. Using the theoretical lens of the technology acceptance model, results show a lack of ease of use and technological turbulence impact companies’ decisions to adopt 3DP. 3DP service providers can indeed attempt to alleviate the above challenges faced by customers through providing multiple 3DP services across different stages of adoption.
Research limitations/implications
Future research should examine the role of 3DP equipment manufacturers and design and modeling software solutions providers in improving adoption and how 3DP equipment manufacturers could develop into more integrated service providers as the technology advances.
Practical implications
Service providers can help customers transition to 3DP and should develop a portfolio of services that fits different phases of adoption.
Originality/value
The paper outlines how 3DP service providers can help address customer challenges in adoption of 3DP across different stages of adoption.
With the recent emergence of Additive Manufacturing (AM) for end-use production applications, contemporary AM management literature suggests radical structural transformations to Supply Chain (SC) structures with corresponding performance benefits, relative to Traditional Manufacturing (TM). However understanding is lacking about the nature of these changes. This paper analyzes the potential impacts of AM processes on traditional SC structures. Configuration theory, postulated by Alfred Chandler and widely applied in studies of TM and service SCs, serves as a basis to analyze the potential impacts of AM on the structural dimensions of SCs, with respect to a set of performance objectives. A framework is developed to capture these impacts with corresponding implications for the operations of part suppliers, module suppliers and final assemblers, deploying AM in different modes and levels in the product hierarchy. By highlighting the differences in characteristics of SCs from TM and AM production scenarios, the framework aids to conceptualize and explain the potential impacts of AM on SC configurations. This differentiation is necessary to understand the relative capabilities of TM and AM SC configurations and implications for different SC entities.
Additive manufacturing
(2022)
Using Resource Dependence Theory (RDT), this paper explores the changing state of Supply Chain (SC) complexities and dependencies resulting from Additive Manufacturing (AM) adoption, analysing implications for competitiveness. We utilised an adapted SC configuration framework to develop embedded case studies across the Aerospace, Automotive and Power Generation industries. The sample included fifteen companies deploying metal AM across three SC tiers. Using an abductive logic, our findings reveal that the complexity and dependency-reduction potential of AM depends on economic, industry, geographical, organisational and technological factors. We developed a conceptual framework for AM SC configuration and four propositions, which provide further insights into the interplay between SC complexities, dependencies and competitiveness. By utilising RDT, we contribute to the AM SC configuration literature by highlighting the mediating role that dependencies play in achieving competitiveness, as well as strategies adopted by firms to mitigate uncertainty. We also highlight the interplay between ‘relationship and governance’ and three other SC configuration dimensions in relation to competitiveness. Insights into the changing state of complexities and dependencies identified in this study could also support managerial decisions in AM SC design.