Decision Considerations for Securing and Managing Intellectual Property within Additive Manufacturing Supply Chains

Abstract

Intellectual property is a crucial asset that generates debates about its effects on additive manufacturing supply chains. Actors within these supply chains must adapt to navigate intellectual property issues and decisions to sustain growth. However, no consensus exists among scholars and practitioners on “whether, why, or how” to secure and manage intellectual property, which complicates decision-making. This paper presents a quantitative survey of expert opinions from management, engineering, academia, and consultancy sectors on various decision considerations for securing and managing intellectual property in additive manufacturing supply chains. The findings indicate that decision-making remains significantly complex and non-uniform; this offers insights into crucial considerations when aiming to secure or manage intellectual property as a valued and balanced asset in additive manufacturing supply chains.