The role of service providers in 3D printing adoption

Chaudhuri, A.; Rogers, Helen; Soberg, P.; Pawar, Kulwant

Abstract

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to identify challenges faced by industrial firms at different phases of adoption of 3D printing (3DP), and outline how 3DP service providers can help address these challenges.

Design/methodology/approach
Separate interview questionnaires for 3DP users and 3DP service providers were used to conduct semi-structured interviews.

Findings
The key 3DP adoption challenges are as follows: creating a business case; difficulty in using different materials; optimising the process for specific parts; lack of “plug and play” solutions offered by equipment manufacturers; limited availability of training and educational support; poor end product quality; machine breakdowns; and high cost of maintenance and spare components. Using the theoretical lens of the technology acceptance model, results show a lack of ease of use and technological turbulence impact companies’ decisions to adopt 3DP. 3DP service providers can indeed attempt to alleviate the above challenges faced by customers through providing multiple 3DP services across different stages of adoption.

Research limitations/implications
Future research should examine the role of 3DP equipment manufacturers and design and modeling software solutions providers in improving adoption and how 3DP equipment manufacturers could develop into more integrated service providers as the technology advances.

Practical implications
Service providers can help customers transition to 3DP and should develop a portfolio of services that fits different phases of adoption.

Originality/value
The paper outlines how 3DP service providers can help address customer challenges in adoption of 3DP across different stages of adoption.

Citation

Chaudhuri, A., Rogers, H., Soberg, P., & Pawar, K. (2019). The role of service providers in 3D printing adoption. Industrial Management and Data Systems, 119(6), 1189-1205. https://doi.org/10.1108/IMDS-08-2018-0339

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 28, 2018
• Online Publication Date: Jun 18, 2019
• Publication Date: Jun 18, 2019
• Deposit Date: Jan 8, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 8, 2019
• Journal: Industrial Management and Data Systems
• Print ISSN: 0263-5577
• Publisher: Emerald
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 119
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 1189-1205
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/IMDS-08-2018-0339
• Keywords: 3D printing adoption challenges, Industrial firms, Service providers, Denmark, Germany
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1449873
• Publisher URL: https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/IMDS-08-2018-0339/full/html
• Contract Date: Jan 8, 2019