Katrin Oettmeier

Purpose The focus of this paper is the evolution of supply chain management (SCM) and logistics and the relationship between these concepts. Its purpose is to generate deep insights into practice, particularly in relation to the fundamental issue of how practitioners from different industrial and geographical contexts define the supply chain, SCM and logistics. Design/methodology/approach The paper adopts an inductive research approach. Qualitative empirical data was collected through in-depth interviews among managers from four third-party logistics providers, four retailers and four manufacturers based in Poland and Switzerland. The semi-structured interview guide is based on a previous study by Lummus et al. (2001). The data collected during the interviews is contrasted with insights from existing research about the supply chain, SCM and logistics. Findings The findings suggest that there are context-dependent differences between practitioners’ understanding of the supply chain, SCM and logistics. This variation mirrors to some extent the plethora of orientations and emphases evident in the academic definitions of these terms, which have been proposed in recent decades. Research limitations/implications The authors use the concept of refined replication in operations management research. This allows us to build upon previous research in order to test the current understanding of SCM theory among professionals. The sample is limited to Poland and Switzerland. Practical implications Practitioners benefit from differentiated insights into the contemporary understanding of and linkages between the terms supply chain, SCM and logistics. Moreover, they are sensitized for context-specific variations in the meaning of these concepts.

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

Despite experiencing immense growth in the past decade, additive manufacturing (AM) technologies are still rarely used in industrial parts manufacturing. This paper identifies factors that determine the decision to adopt AM technologies for the production of functional parts. Eight potential adoption determinants were identified, which can be classified into four interdisciplinary categories: AM technology-related factors, supply chain-related factors, firm-related-factors, and market structure-related factors. An empirical study among 195 firms suggests that demand-side benefits and compatibility are the main determinants of AM technology adoption. This highlights that intra- and inter-organizational factors should be considered when investigating the adoption of innovative technologies.