Connecting additive manufacturing to circular economy implementation strategies: Links, contingencies and causal loops

Abstract

Additive manufacturing (AM) is one of the technologies driving the shift to Industry 4.0. This transition reconfigures the supply chain to achieve the circular economy (CE) ideal along with improved resource efficiency. This study aims to explore how AM can be implemented in the CE context and to conceptualise the integration of AM and CE. The conceptual elements are identified through a systematic review and content analysis of the related literature, which consist of 51 journal articles. The content analysis was further enhanced by a contingency analysis and a causal loop diagram (CLD). The study highlights the role of the customer and the maturity of the technology as cornerstones when adopting AM in the CE context. Further, understanding the impact of manufacture location, the rapid prototyping legacy and workforce skill is crucial for achieving sustainability in the long run through AM implementation. Further, the contingency analysis reveals key constructs, which are grouped into five key clusters that need to be considered when implementing AM: (1) supply chain actors, (2) drivers, (3) key AM decisions, (4) CE implementation strategies and (5) operational practices. The CLD illustrates the interconnections between these five clusters, thereby revealing how key AM decisions and drivers mediate the influence exerted by CE implementation strategies and supply chain actors of AM on the operational practices. From a practical viewpoint, this study strives to realise the CE by proposing an elaborated guideline for practitioners to implement state-of-the-art AM technology.