The adoption process and impact of additive manufacturing on manufacturing systems

Abstract

Purpose Company pressure for manufacturers is mounting from two angles: increasing pressure of global competition, and rapid advancements in technology such as additive manufacturing (AM) that are altering the way that goods are manufactured. The purpose of this paper is to explore the adoption process of AM within a manufacturing system and its business impact. Design/methodology/approach Research was conducted to collect empirical data at two manufacturing case companies in the North West England. Both cases are located in areas of industrial recovery using AM engineering innovation for value creation. Findings Early findings showed that the implementation of AM caused a shift in value propositions and the creation of additional value streams (VSs) for the case study companies. AM was shown to compliment and strengthen traditional manufacturing VSs rather than replacing them. Research limitations/implications Limitations include the generalizability due to the number and location of case companies included in this research. Practical implications It is worthwhile to explore the opportunities that AM brings with the existing customer base as it has the potential to add unexplored and untapped value. However, managers need to be mindful of the capability and resources required to put the VS into practice. Social implications Both cases resulted in skill retainment and development due to the implementation of AM. Hence, the innovation contributed to regional economic recovery and business survival. Originality/value This empirical research is one of the early field explorations focussing on the impact of AM on VS structures. Hence, this paper contributes to the area of technology enhanced manufacturing systems.

The Perceived Value of Additively Manufactured Digital Spare Parts in the Industry: An Empirical Investigation

“…It has long been hypothesized that implementing AM in supply chains would lead to significant benefits, to the point that AM has been likened to the internet in its ability to cause a paradigm shift [9]. Pérès and Noyes were some of the first researchers to suggest implementing AM in supply chains in order to manufacture spare parts closer to the point of need [10]. They presented several avenues of research to verify the potential of the concept: research into technical features of spare parts (materials, tolerance, life cycle etc.…”

Guest editorial

“…A research gap is the lack of a proper historical account of developments of additive manufacturing. The fifth paper in the special issue by Rylands et al (2016) addresses the history to some extent, but a full account of this history is still lacking. Another gap is an analysis of the impact of additive manufacturing on the economy and society as a whole, not just in specific industries.…”

“…The ASTM proposes seven categories depending on how the layers are created: vat photopolymerization; material jetting; binder jetting; material extrusion; powder bed fusion; sheet; and directed energy deposition (see also Wohlers and Caffrey, 2013). Rylands et al (2016) in this special issue describe the different printers that emerged over time. These printers range from hobbyist printers, such as those by MakerBot, or the printer created in the RepRap project to industrial scale printers, such as systems that have the ability to produce solid items by using lasers to sinter powders layer by layer to create a finished object (Griffey, 2014).…”

“…The paper has adopted a multiple case-study approach to explore the impact of additive manufacturing. Rylands et al (2016) in their paper "The adoption process and impact of additive manufacturing on manufacturing systems" explore the adoption process of additive manufacturing technology in companies. The paper adopts a multiple case-study approach focusing on two manufacturing companies, a metal manufacturing company and a company manufacturing wallpaper.…”

“…The value stream refers to the combination of the external value chain and the internal manufacturing and logistics processes in a company. Rylands et al (2016) describe that additive manufacturing is complimenting and strengthening traditional manufacturing value streams rather than replacing them.…”