Digital technological upgrading in manufacturing global value chains: The impact of additive manufacturing

Abstract

This article contributes to the burgeoning literature on digitalization and technological upgrading in global value chains (GVCs). It focuses on the adoption of additive manufacturing (AM)-a particular type of 'Industry 4.0' technology-by manufacturing GVCs and its impact on process and production upgrade. Drawing on extensive qualitative research in Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States, including 54 interviews and participant observation firms, it examines the AM industry and its adoption in manufacturing firms. The findings contribute to existing understandings of technological upgrading in GVCs by differentiating between different types of actors within GVCs, focusing on produce and process upgrading in lead firms and in original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and lower-tier suppliers. It finds that OEM and lower-tier firms are using AM to upgrade and capture value in different ways to lead firms, with implications for relationships between actors. The paper also highlights the sectoral variation in the adoption of AM and reflects on the contemporary and future role of this digital technology in manufacturing GVCs.

Value Chain Digitalization, Global Value Chain Embeddedness, and Distributed Innovation in Value Chains

“…An alternative stream of literature focuses on developing new theoretical frameworks for digital innovation and entrepreneurial management in the digital age [33,54,55]. Another strand examines the role of digital technology in GVC embeddedness, positing that digital technology application can alter firm participation, labor division, and locations in GVCs [30,[56][57][58][59][60].…”

Research progress and prospects of digital restructuring of global-local interactions

“…配置跨区域资源要素等方面发挥重要作用 [28][29][30] 益扩大， 跨地区的经济联系日益紧密 [31][32] 。在这一 背景下， 关于区域发展的认识开始强调本地差异与 外部联系的交互作用及其重要性， 有关全球-地方 互动的探索应运而生 [33][34] 。全球-地方互动的隐 喻高度概括了全球和地方、 以及两者之间的一系 列尺度间的关系互动， 塑造了多样化的区域空间 结果 [35][36] 。 全球-地方互动研究伴随着经济地理学的关 系转向。20 世纪 90 年代以来， 西方经济地理学家 借鉴价值链、 嵌入、 行动者网络等理论来解释新型 国际劳动分工背景下的全球化经济与地方发展 [37] [38] 。随着数字化在各行各业中逐步 渗透， 数字化如何赋能价值链升级成为研究热点。 研究表明， 数字化不仅有助于推动生产制造环节提 高生产效率、 提升价值链地位、 加速产业转型 [39][40][41] ， 而且对服务部门的促进作用更为显著， 例如供应链 管理、 产品销售和流通等方面 [42] 。特别是互联网经 济迅速兴起后， 有学者认为全球-地方互动的驱动 力逐渐由生产导向向消费导向转变 [43] 。但这种观 [39][40][41] ； 互 联网中介整合了生产驱动型和消费驱动型的二分价值链， 形成互联 网导向链 [45] ； 价值链结构向灵活网络结构转变， 推动价值分配和治 理模式重组 [46] 数字技术作为非人行动者， 重塑了价值、 权力与嵌入 [1] ； 数字平台企 业的横、 纵向整合与消费市场相互作用， 促进跨境贸易与分销网络 的模式变革 [29] ； 数字化丰富和拓展了嵌入性的动态交互关系 [48] 系统构成要素与内外部环境间的相互作用关系 [49,51] ； 推动经济景观 地方性、 边界性和流动性的重构 [52] ； 推动形成开放、 动态、 跨尺度的 复杂系统 [56][57] 第 2 期 匡爱平 等：数字化重塑全球-地方互动的研究进展与展望 点割裂了生产与消费的统一性， 在互联网的深刻影 响下， 生产与消费的行为主体和空间范围均日趋融 合 [44] ， 单纯从生产或消费的某一个角度来考察全球 -地方生产关系， 显然已无法解释新兴经济业态与 区域发展的动态机制。 Gereffi [45] 进一步展开不均衡的价值分配 [43] 。另一方面， 随着 价值链组织结构的日益复杂， 数字化治理逐渐成为 地方实践和学术界关注的重点议题。例如， Foster 等 [46] 从数字化治理的角度探讨互联网连接对地方 发展的影响， 发现互联网连接仅仅是地方进入全球 市场的基础条件， 更重要的是利用互联网促进创新 或开发利基市场的能力。…”

Digital transformation and value chains: Introduction

“…In the garment industry, as analysed by López et al (2021), and the fresh fruits industry, as described by , the capture of data is instrumental for matchmaking and distributive functions that are key competences in supply chains that are geared towards greater responsiveness to fluctuations in market demand. Also in the 3D printing industry, the trajectory of which is investigated by Johns (2021), the capture of data and the ability to control design processes is of critical importance for competitiveness in the evolving value chains. platform conglomerates in the fresh fruits industry and shows how a vertical integration of the supply chains cuts out intermediaries, such as traditional traders, leading to dramatic restructuring in the sector.…”

“…Johns (2021) contributes an in‐depth study of the additive manufacturing industry from a GVC perspective. She focusses on the current practices of 3D printing and finds that the relevance of this technology varies greatly across industries.…”