The Adoption of Additive Technologies in Manufacturing: An Economic and Organizational Outlook

This article explores the potential of additive manufacturing (AM) from an economic and organizational perspective. It builds on existing literature and on in-depth interviews with: i) entrepreneurs and managers of technology supplier companies; ii) early-adopters in manufacturing; iii) specialized service-providers; iv) “makers”; and v) experts. The economic and organizational implications of AM are relevant since it can lead to: a) changes in stock management and logistics; b) changes in the logic of technical design; c) changes in materials; and d) more opportunities for customization. We focus on the implications of AM for industrial uses in the aerospace, biomedical, automotive, dental and jewellery sectors. The reputed disruptive potential of AM would appear to be a misleading concern as AM’s adoption does not always imply radical changes to the consolidated systems of production in manufacturing. Nevertheless, entrepreneurs and managers should break established conventions and grasp the actual competitive value of this innovation.