3D-Printing: How Additive Manufacturing impacts Supply Chain Business Processes and Management Components

Purpose
The business implications of additive manufacturing (AM) are explored; specific focus thereby lies on the impact of AM technology adoption in customized parts production.

Design/methodology/approach
Based on two explorative case studies from the hearing aid industry, the impact of AM technology adoption on supply chain business processes and management components is analyzed. General systems theory and a supply chain management framework serve as
theoretical underpinning.

Findings
Not only primarily manufacturing firms’ internal processes and management activities, e.g. in material flow management, are affected by a changeover to AM, but also business processes and management components relating to the supply- and demand-side of a company’s supply chain.

Research limitations/implications
It is proposed that AM’s ability to economically build custom products provides the potential to alleviate the common dilemma between product variety and scale economies.

Practical implications
Manufacturing firms are encouraged to consider the potential effects of AM on supply chain processes and management components when deciding about the adoption of AM technologies in the manufacturing of industrial parts.

Original/value
The research adds to the widely unexplored effects that AM technology usage in customized parts production has on supply chain business processes and management components. Moreover, the general lack of case studies analyzing implications of AM technology adoption
from a supply chain perspective is addressed. The resulting propositions may serve as a starting point for further research on the impact of AM in engineer-to-order supply chains.

Keywords: additive manufacturing, 3D-printing, supply chain management, customization,
engineer-to-order, business processes, management components