Adoption of 3D-printing technologies in manufacturing: A survey analysis

Dara G. Schniederjans

International Journal of Production Economics, 2017, vol. 183, issue PA, 287-298

Abstract: Current manufacturing literature discusses the potential for 3D-printing to optimize both operations and supply chain management performance. In addition various countries have invested heavily in encouraging the adoption and use of 3D-printing in manufacturing. Despite this, very little current literature exists on addressing the question: what impacts 3D-printing adoption? Through the use of diffusion of innovations theory and unified theory of acceptance and use of technology, this study addresses three research inquiries. (1) Does top-management adoption category impact 3D-printing speed of actual adoption as well as speed of potential adoption in manufacturing? (2) What are the main drivers of intention-to-adopt 3D-printing in manufacturing from the perception of top-management on the innovation? And (3) Does top-management perceptions differ based on adoption category in the context of 3D-printing adoption? Survey analysis was used to examine these questions with 270 top-management representatives from manufacturing firms across the United States. The results provide evidence that top-management adoption category impacts potential speed of adoption. In addition the results provide conflicting evidence on the role of complexity and effort expectancy in intention-to-adopt 3D-printing. Post-hoc moderation analyses suggest innate individual characteristics of top-management play a role in the impact of these perceptions on intention-to adopt 3D-printing.

Keywords: 3D-printing technologies; Innovation management; Manufacturing strategy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (44)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:proeco:v:183:y:2017:i:pa:p:287-298

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpe.2016.11.008

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