From Bits to Atoms: 3D Printing in the Context of Supply Chain Strategies

TL;DR

This paper examines how 3D printing technology can transform supply chain strategies by analyzing opportunities, barriers, and proposing guiding principles for integrating additive manufacturing into supply chain management.

Contribution

It introduces a set of principles to connect existing supply chain research with 3D printing technology, aiding understanding of its potential and limitations.

Findings

Identifies key opportunities of 3D printing in supply chains

Highlights barriers to adoption and integration

Proposes principles to guide research and practice

Abstract

A lot of attention in supply chain management has been devoted to understanding customer requirements. What are customer priorities in terms of price and service level, and how can companies go about fulfilling these requirements in an optimal way? New manufacturing technology in the form of 3D printing is about to change some of the underlying assumptions for different supply chain set-ups. This paper explores opportunities and barriers of 3D printing technology, specifically in a supply chain context. We are proposing a set of principles that can act to bridge existing research on different supply chain strategies and 3D printing. With these principles, researchers and practitioners alike can better understand the opportunities and limitations of 3D printing in a supply chain management context.