Business Models for Additive Manufacturing: Exploring Digital Technologies, Consumer Roles, and Supply Chains

Technological Forecasting & Social Change, 2015, Forthcoming

59 Pages Posted: 1 Aug 2015

See all articles by Marcel Bogers

Marcel Bogers

Eindhoven University of Technology; University of Copenhagen; University of California, Berkeley

Ronen Hadar

University of Southern Denmark

Arne Bilberg

University of Southern Denmark

Date Written: July 28, 2015

Abstract

Digital fabrication — including additive manufacturing (AM), rapid prototyping and 3D printing — has the potential to revolutionize the way in which products are produced and delivered to the customer. Therefore, it challenges companies to reinvent their business model — describing the logic of creating and capturing value. In this paper, we explore the implications that AM technologies have for manufacturing systems in the new business models that they enable. In particular, we consider how a consumer goods manufacturer can organize the operations of a more open business model when moving from a manufacturer-centric to a consumer-centric value logic. A major shift includes a move from centralized to decentralized supply chains, where consumer goods manufacturers can implement a “hybrid” approach with a focus on localization and accessibility or develop a fully personalized model where the consumer effectively takes over the productive activities of the manufacturer. We discuss some of the main implications for research and practice of consumer-centric business models and the changing decoupling point in consumer goods’ manufacturing supply chains.

Keywords: 3D printing; additive manufacturing; business models; digital fabrication; glocalized production; rapid manufacturing; rapid prototyping; supply chains

Suggested Citation

Bogers, Marcel and Hadar, Ronen and Bilberg, Arne, Business Models for Additive Manufacturing: Exploring Digital Technologies, Consumer Roles, and Supply Chains (July 28, 2015). Technological Forecasting & Social Change, 2015, Forthcoming, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2638054

Marcel Bogers (Contact Author)

Eindhoven University of Technology

Den Dolech 2
Eindhoven, North Brabant 5612 AZ
Netherlands

HOME PAGE: http://www.tue.nl

University of Copenhagen ( email )

Department of Food and Resource Economics (IFRO)
Rolighedsvej 23
Copenhagen, 1958
Denmark

University of California, Berkeley

Garwood Center for Corporate Innovation
F402 Hass School of Business, #1930
Berkeley, CA 94720
United States

Ronen Hadar

University of Southern Denmark ( email )

Campusvej 55
DK-5230 Odense, 5000
Denmark

Arne Bilberg

University of Southern Denmark ( email )

Alsion 2
Sønderborg, 6400
Denmark

Do you have a job opening that you would like to promote on SSRN?

Paper statistics

Downloads
515
Abstract Views
3,622
Rank
113,164
PlumX Metrics