Framework for comparing business value of decentralized additive manufacturing with conventional manufacturing

Other conference contribution, 2024

Additive Manufacturing (AM), or 3D printing, holds potential for industrial sustainability development and supply chain transformation. Despite its benefits, AM's integration into supply chains (SC) remains limited. This paper proposes a framework for evaluating AM SC localization options and calculating the business value focusing on cost, lead time, and environmental sustainability. The framework was developed through workshops and interviews with industry, complemented with literature review. Employing purposive sampling, three global industrial companies collaborated to map AM usage and analyze SC’s. This framework facilitates the adoption of AM and transformation of SC by supporting decisions with business cases.