Preprint: André O. Laplume, Bent Petersen, Joshua M. Pearce, Global value chains from a 3D printing perspective , Journal of International Business Studies 47(5), 595–609 (2016). doi:10.1057/jibs.2015.47 Global Value Chains from a 3D Printing Perspective For the JIBS Special Issue on Internationalization in the Information Age André O. Laplume School of Business and Economics, Michigan Technological University 1400 Townsend Drive. Houghton, Michigan, 49931 906-487-3267 Contact author: aolaplum@mtu.edu Bent Petersen Department of Strategic Management and Globalization Copenhagen Business School Solbjerg Plads 3, 2000 Frederiksberg, Denmark Room: KIL/14A-2.59 +45 38152510 bp.smg@cbs.dk Joshua M. Pearce Department of Materials Science & Engineering and Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Michigan Technological University 1400 Townsend Drive. Houghton, Michigan, 49931 906-487-1466 pearce@mtu.edu Abstract: This paper outlines the evolution of additive manufacturing technology, culminating in 3D printing, and presents a vision of how this evolution is affecting existing global value chains in production. In particular, we bring up questions about how this new technology can affect the geographic span and density of global value chains. Potentially, wider adoption of this technology has the potential to partially reverse the trend towards global specialization of production systems into elements that may be geographically dispersed and closer to the end-users (localization). This leaves the question of whether in some industries diffusion of 3D printing technologies may change the role of multinational enterprises as coordinators of global value chains by inducing the engagement of a wider variety of firms, even households. Keywords: additive manufacturing; 3D printing; global value chains; geographic span; geographic density 1