The Role of Collaborative Networks in Overcoming Adoption Challenges of 3D Printing

Purpose: Limited research explores the role of different types of collaborative networks, i.e., cluster-based, academia, or industry-led in addressing challenges and barriers in adopting 3D printing. The literature on the adoption of new technologies focuses on the intra-organisational enablers and to a limited extent on the role of external partners. Hence, this paper explores the role of collaborative networks in overcoming adoption challenges of 3D printing.
Design: The exploratory interview and case study approach employed here identifies companies’ challenges in adopting 3D printing. The interview questionnaire caters to research gaps identified in the literature review and is used to conduct semi-structured interviews with firms adopting 3D printing. The research design includes interviews with three service providers and seven customer firms (three in Denmark and four in Germany) between January and May 2017.
The design also includes interviews with one Danish and two German 3D printing networks combined with public domain information (websites, etc.). Nexttech in Denmark is an industrial cluster, while ‘mobility goes additive’ in Germany is an industry-led consortium, with universities added as academic members. The University of Paderborn Direct Manufacturing Research Center (DMRC) is a university-led consortium that also has industry partners.
The research team recorded, analysed, and shared the interviews with the participants.
The theoretical lens in the paper includes co-opetition, technology dispersion and adoption theory, and ambidextrous network theory.
Findings: Networks provide solutions for challenges not addressed by individual service providers. The findings illustrate that networks serve as a platform to discuss and share best practice on challenges such as lack of 3D printing technology awareness in the procurement function, how to train strategic buyers on the technologies, and in developing a customised Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) analysis for 3D printing for their requirements. Networks also liaise with industry associations and regulatory agencies for creating industry-specific standards and addressing IPR-related issues. An academia-led network that allows industry partners to initiate research projects provides a balance of creativity network, transformation network and process network characteristics.
Value: This research clarifies the role and contributions of networks in overcoming challenges in the adoption of 3D printing from exploration to exploitation – an important issue largely neglected in the literature and highly relevant for industrial companies.
Practical implications: There is a clear need for organisations across the 3D printing spectrum to develop a collaborative platform to share challenges and develop solutions, which also facilitates the further development of the technologies. A group of companies can drive these, including both users of the technology, raw material and equipment suppliers, service providers and also educational institutions (e.g. ‘mobility goes additive’). Such networks can also be operated as an independent entity as an industrial cluster based organisation (e.g. Nexttech) or led by universities (e.g. the University of Paderborn DMRC), bringing in companies to test the latest developments and to train engineers and executives.