Assessing Adoption Factors for Additive Manufacturing: Insights from Case Studies
<i>Background:</i> Research on Additive Manufacturing [AM] provides few guidelines for successful adoption of the technology in different market environments. This paper seeks to address this gap by developing a framework that suggests market attributes for which the technology will succ...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2022-06-01
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| Series: | Logistics |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6290/6/2/36 |
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| author | Robert B. Handfield James Aitken Neil Turner Tillmann Boehme Cecil Bozarth |
| author_facet | Robert B. Handfield James Aitken Neil Turner Tillmann Boehme Cecil Bozarth |
| author_sort | Robert B. Handfield |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Background:</i> Research on Additive Manufacturing [AM] provides few guidelines for successful adoption of the technology in different market environments. This paper seeks to address this gap by developing a framework that suggests market attributes for which the technology will successfully meet a need. We rely on classical technology adoption theory to evaluate the challenges and opportunities proffered by AM. <i>Methods:</i> We apply a framework of technology adoption and assess these parameters using seven case studies of businesses that have successfully adopted AM technology. <i>Results:</i> We find that successful business adoption is highly associated with the relative advantage of AM to rapidly deliver customized products targeted to niche market opportunities. <i>Conclusions:</i> Our findings provide a decision framework for AM equipment manufacturers to employ when evaluating AM technology across various market environments. All five adoption characteristics were found to be important however, the primary decision criterion is based on the relative advantage of AM over other, traditional, technologies. From a practitioner perspective, our research highlights the importance of AM in attaining a competitive advantage through responsive, customized production which can address the needs of niche markets. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e109dd756964497eb54d909177db2d7c |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2305-6290 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Logistics |
| spelling | doaj-art-e109dd756964497eb54d909177db2d7c2025-08-20T02:50:55ZengMDPI AGLogistics2305-62902022-06-01623610.3390/logistics6020036Assessing Adoption Factors for Additive Manufacturing: Insights from Case StudiesRobert B. Handfield0James Aitken1Neil Turner2Tillmann Boehme3Cecil Bozarth4Poole College of Management, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USAOperations Management Department, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UKSchool of Management, Cranfield University, Cranfield MK43 0AL, UKSydney Business School, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, AustraliaPoole College of Management, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA<i>Background:</i> Research on Additive Manufacturing [AM] provides few guidelines for successful adoption of the technology in different market environments. This paper seeks to address this gap by developing a framework that suggests market attributes for which the technology will successfully meet a need. We rely on classical technology adoption theory to evaluate the challenges and opportunities proffered by AM. <i>Methods:</i> We apply a framework of technology adoption and assess these parameters using seven case studies of businesses that have successfully adopted AM technology. <i>Results:</i> We find that successful business adoption is highly associated with the relative advantage of AM to rapidly deliver customized products targeted to niche market opportunities. <i>Conclusions:</i> Our findings provide a decision framework for AM equipment manufacturers to employ when evaluating AM technology across various market environments. All five adoption characteristics were found to be important however, the primary decision criterion is based on the relative advantage of AM over other, traditional, technologies. From a practitioner perspective, our research highlights the importance of AM in attaining a competitive advantage through responsive, customized production which can address the needs of niche markets.https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6290/6/2/36additive manufacturingadoption of innovationcase study research |
| spellingShingle | Robert B. Handfield James Aitken Neil Turner Tillmann Boehme Cecil Bozarth Assessing Adoption Factors for Additive Manufacturing: Insights from Case Studies Logistics additive manufacturing adoption of innovation case study research |
| title | Assessing Adoption Factors for Additive Manufacturing: Insights from Case Studies |
| title_full | Assessing Adoption Factors for Additive Manufacturing: Insights from Case Studies |
| title_fullStr | Assessing Adoption Factors for Additive Manufacturing: Insights from Case Studies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessing Adoption Factors for Additive Manufacturing: Insights from Case Studies |
| title_short | Assessing Adoption Factors for Additive Manufacturing: Insights from Case Studies |
| title_sort | assessing adoption factors for additive manufacturing insights from case studies |
| topic | additive manufacturing adoption of innovation case study research |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6290/6/2/36 |
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