Printing spare parts through additive manufacturing: legal and digital business challenges

Abstract

Purpose: This paper investigates the technology, business and intellectual property issues surrounding the production of spare parts through Additive Manufacturing (AM) from a digital source. It aims to identify challenges to the growth of the AM spares market and propose suitable solutions. Methodology:The paper begins with a systematic literature review and theoretical analysis. This is followed by case study research (CSR) through semi-structured interviews, forming the basis of a triangulated, cross-case analysis of empirical data. Findings:The paper identifies several obstacles to the development of the AM-produced digital spares market. The manufacturing industry will soon be forced to rethink AM as a real manufacturing alternative. Short-term, AM technology has implications for the production of components for legacy systems for which tooling facilities no longer exist. Long-term, AM will be used to produce a wide range of components especially when product and/or service functionality can be increased. To enable companies to navigate current uncertainties in the patent framework (especially the 'repair versus make' doctrine), new IPR strategies could be developed around patenting both complex devices and their individual components, and seeking patent protection for CAD files. Further harmonization of the EU legal framework, the interpretation of claims and the scope of protection offered in the context of spare parts, will also be important.Originality/value: This study pinpoints key issues that need to be addressed within the European AM business environment and the patent system and proposes recommendations for business and legal frameworks to promote the growth of a stable European digital spare parts market.

Additive manufacturing and supply chains – a systematic review

“…Attaran 2017 parts system (or digital warehouse) can, according to Ballardini, Flores Ituarte, and Pei (2018), facilitate the processes of finding product information, pricing, and purchasing and, hence, can increase the company's process awareness given that a proper legal framework is in place.…”

Evaluating the Readiness Level of Additively Manufactured Digital Spare Parts: An Industrial Perspective

“…Spare parts are replacements for failed or lifetime-expired components through repair (repairable) or reproduction (consumable). Currently, spare part businesses are affected by three main issues: Availability, cost, and time [19]. Ideally, companies store a sufficient amount of spare parts in an inventory to avoid downtime, while keeping the number of spare parts as low as possible to avoid high storage costs.…”

A methodology for the decentralised design and production of additive manufactured spare parts

“…On the other hand, there are many legal uncertainties, especially in Europe, that hinder the development of a sustainable DS market. Currently, there is no real agreement on the interpretation of the repair act in the European Union and it is not clear whether and to what extent purchasing a patented item and repair it or modify it is allowed (Ballardini et al, 2018). This gives place to a grey area that allows end-users to privately repair goods using AM under Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) while not infringing.…”