Organizational adoption of 3D printing technology: a semisystematic literature review

Abstract

PurposeThree-dimensional (3D) printing (3DP) offers a promising value proposition across multiple manufacturing industries. Despite the variety of production benefits the technology entails, its rate of adoption is still low compared to industry forecasts. In face of this challenge, industry as well as academia requires more information and guidance. This review aims to examine the characteristics of the existing body of research on the organizational adoption of 3DP as well as its underlying theoretical concepts. The most common criteria driving adoption will be derived, such as to facilitate the managerial decision-making process. Pathways for future research will be presented.Design/methodology/approachThis study underlies a bibliometric literature review and additionally applies content analysis to systematically investigate the existing body of research and group decision criteria along the four major pillars of strategic decision-making.FindingsThe contributions of this paper are threefold. First, the bibliometric analysis reveals interesting aspects of the existing body of research. The most prominent characteristics of the contemporary literature are reflected along descriptive indicators, such as industry, method, model, origin, research outlet or adoption drivers, thus granting relevant insights into academia and practice. Second, the most notable adoption models are carefully analyzed on their inherent attributes and their application fit for the context of organizational 3DP adoption. Findings, for instance, revealed the dominance of diffusion of innovation (DOI) across the existing body of research and divulge that this construct is generally applied in combination with user-centered decision frameworks to yield more precise results. Third, an ample range of opportunities for future research are detected and thoroughly explained. Among others, the authors identified a clear lack of information on the impact environmental variables and contingency factors exerted on the organizational adoption of 3DP. Guidance in relation to the sourcing of industry data, usage of adoption frameworks and avenues for future scientific projects is supplied.Originality/valueThis study represents the first semi-systematic literature review on the organizational adoption of 3DP. Thus, it not only offers a valuable evaluation guide for potential adopters but also determines a future research agenda.

Stagewise Overview of Issues Influencing Organizational Technology Adoption and Use

“…However, the obstacles are not clearly distinguished and the mechanism of adjusting the culture and strategy is rather abstract. In other studies, internal upper management support was found to a prominent factor (Chung and Choi, 2018;Lu et al, 2018;Mohtaramzadeh et al, 2018;Maali et al, 2020;Ukobitz, 2020). Furthermore, awareness of the state of affairs in the organization's external environment was found to be essential (Mohtaramzadeh et al, 2018;Vaishnavi et al, 2019).…”

Additive manufacturing value chain adoption

“…The main goal of this study was to generate new insights into how AM adoption takes place when adopted in the production value chains of companies that do not invest in AM machines and why AM is adopted into the value chain. This study contributes to the knowledge on the adoption of AM through the value-driven potential of AM and answers the call for studies to illustrate successful cases of AM adoption (Luomaranta and Martinsuo, 2020;Rylands et al, 2016;Ukobitz, 2021). We explored companies that cooperate in the value chain to generate new opportunities and analyzed innovation projects as platforms that enable the companies to benefit from each other when identifying value-adding applications and establishing new supply chains.…”

“…For the large-scale adoption of AM, AM concepts, products and processes need to be broadly accepted in the production value chain. Case studies of successful AM adoption have been called for (Luomaranta and Martinsuo, 2020; Ukobitz, 2021) to overcome managers' AM technology trust issues and further advance the adoption of AM. Our multiple-case study generated new knowledge on application recognition and interorganizational cooperation during innovation projects when adopting AM in companies' production value chains.…”

“…To conclude, previous studies on the organizational adoption of metallic AM are limited to single organizational settings and the intention to adopt instead of adoption progress or success. This research fills the gap concerning completed AM value chain adoption in interorganizational settings by elaborating and expanding the theory of AM adoption with external integration in line with the information processing view and thereby responding to calls by Ukobitz (2021) and Rylands et al. (2016).…”

“…These studies do not, however, explain the process of adopting metallic AM technology in interorganizational settings. Also, a recent meta-study by Ukobitz (2021) concluded that (perhaps due to the novelty of AM technology in companies) most previous studies have concentrated more on the intention to adopt AM in firms and the barriers preventing it instead of the actual adoption.…”