Exploring the effects of additive manufacturing technology adoption on the state of the supply chain: a resilience perspective

As a digital technology, the adoption of additive manufacturing (AM), otherwise known as 3D printing, affects the state of the supply chain, consequently affecting supply chain resilience. To investigate the subject matter from the industry’s viewpoint, an exploratory survey was conducted to collect quantitative and qualitative empirical data from a heterogeneous sample of experts in various companies with hands-on experience in AM technology adoption. The quantitative data analysis indicates that adopting AM technology affects the supply chain’s state to a moderate extent overall, which in turn is likely to moderately affect supply chain resilience. The qualitative data analysis elucidates how different adoption features of AM technology affect the supply chain’s state and identifies the barriers inhibiting these effects. Generic propositions are put forward to reflect the theoretical implications of the study. Moreover, an empirical framework is conceived that outlines the managerial implications of the study. This framework can be used by practitioners and academics seeking to understand to what extent and how AM adoption affects the supply chain’s state, a fundamental prerequisite for assessing the supply chain resilience outcomes of adopting this digital technology.