The journey from direct and indirect additive manufacturing of individual parts to virtual warehousing of the parts portfolio: Lessons for industrial manufacturers

The advent of the virtual warehouse (VW) supported by additive manufacturing (AM) represents a significant opportunity for reconfiguring modern supply chain, which can provide leverage for quick response, resilience, global reach and sustainable capabilities for small and large companies alike. In this article, we outline the benefits and challenges in adoption of VW, identify the factors, which need to be considered for adoption of VW and provide a preliminary framework for its adoption considering the different stages of the product lifecycle. Our findings suggest that though the benefits of VW can be high at the later stages of the product lifecycle, it is prudent that companies consider that at the product design stage as the cost of adopting it in the earlier stages are one-time and relatively lower compared to those adopting it for products in late lifecycle stages. VW also opens up opportunities for small and medium enterprises (SME) suppliers to be integrated into the digital supply chain of its customers.