Abstract
Additive manufacturing of spare parts significantly impacts industrial, social, and environmental aspects. However, a literature review shows that: (i) academic papers on the adoption of additive manufacturing have focused mainly on large companies; (ii) the methods required by SMEs to adopt new technologies differ from those employed by large companies; and (iii) recent studies suggest that a suitable way to help small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to adopt new additive manufacturing technologies from the academic world is by presenting case studies in which SMEs are involved. Given the increasing number of global SMEs (i.e., SMEs that manufacture locally and sell globally), we claim that these companies need to be assisted in adopting spare-parts additive manufacturing for the sake of resource and environmental sustainability. To bridge this gap, the purpose of this article is to present a case study approach that shows how a digital supply chain for spare parts has the potential to bring about changes in business models with significant benefits for both global SMEs (more effective logistic management), customers (response time), and the environment (reduced energy, emissions, raw materials, and waste).
Highlights
Introduction and Literature ReviewAdditive manufacturing allows the generation of components directly from 3D information and raw materials
Traditional supply chains are composed of a set of geographically dispersed facilities that need to be communicated through a physical network to transport materials
This article presents a case study approach showing how a digital supply chain for spare parts has the potential to bring about changes in business models with a positive impact on efficiency and sustainability
Summary
Introduction and Literature ReviewAdditive manufacturing (or 3D printing) allows the generation of components directly from 3D information and raw materials (i.e., without requiring the other resources needed for standard manufacturing, such as specific molds or tools). In a digital supply chain, manufacturing information can “travel” through a digital network from one facility to another This means that, for example, the information needed to manufacture a component is stored in a distant facility within the supply chain, the machine that generates the component can be located at a more convenient point (e.g., near the source of raw materials, or near the end user, etc.). This feature minimizes the need to transport materials between different points in the chain which, in turn, has a positive impact on the environment
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