Impact of additive manufacturing on business competitiveness: a multiple case study Mojtaba Khorram Niaki and Fabio Nonino Department of Computer, Control and Management Engineering, Universita degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza, Rome, Italy Abstract Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify the impacts of additive manufacturing (AM) in manufacturing, business strategies and business performance and to determine the contingent factors driving performance. Accordingly, this study also clarifies the relationship between these impacts and company and product characteristics. Design/methodology/approach – The authors conducted an exploratory study using multiple case research methodology, sampling 16 heterogeneous companies based on the theoretical replication approach. The potential impacts of AM were identified by reviewing the previous literature. For the driving factors, the paper follows the literature on AM, as well as the theories arisen from technology management literature. The qualitative information was collected by means of semi-structured interviews and documentary analysis to measure the effectiveness of AM in these aspects. Findings – The paper derives and provides empirical insights regarding how this technology affects the industry. This study reveals how the implementation of AM in the Rapid Manufacturing (RM) of products made of metal has boosted productivity. These findings also demonstrate an increasing competitiveness of the early adopter SMEs using RM. Research limitations/implications – This empirical research has been conducted by means of qualitative data. Therefore, researchers are encouraged to test the propositions by quantitative measures. Practical implications – The paper provides insights for the adaption of AM and its impacts on business strategies and performance. Originality/value – This paper contributes to expanding the literature by depicting explicit links between the implementation of this revolutionary technology and business strategies and performance. Keywords Additive manufacturing, Multiple case study, Technology impacts Paper type Research paper 1. Introduction Additive manufacturing (AM) is defined as “a process of joining materials to make objects from 3D model data, usually layer upon layer, as opposed to subtractive manufacturing technologies” (ASTM – Standard-F2792), such as traditional machining. This emerging technology has been referred to as the next industrial revolution (Hopkinson et al., 2006). AM is a developing technology that was launched in the 1980s (Kruth et al., 1998); however, regarding its practical application, it is currently at the forefront in prototyping, manufacturing, medicine, and arts. From the emergence of the first Rapid Prototyping (RP) system in 1988, AM technology has been successfully introduced in many industries such as automotive, aerospace, electronics, medicine, etc. The AM processes available for companies include stereolithography (SLA), selective laser sintering (SLS), fused deposition manufacturing (FDM), laminated object manufacturing, ballistic particle manufacturing, and desktop three dimensional printing (3DP; Pham and Dimov, 2012; and Jacobs, 1995). To those who have used AM for many years, some processes, such as SLA and SLS, may be considered as an established rather than an emerging method. In addition, according to the raw material used in the process, these technologies can be divided into three categories: liquid-based system, powder-based system, and solid-based system. SLA is widely considered as a founding process within the field of RP and in liquid-based systems. In the second category, SLS was first invented and patented in 1979, Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management Vol. 28 No. 1, 2017 pp. 56-74 © Emerald Publishing Limited 1741-038X DOI 10.1108/JMTM-01-2016-0001 Received 2 January 2016 Revised 1 August 2016 5 September 2016 Accepted 9 September 2016 The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at: www.emeraldinsight.com/1741-038X.htm 56 JMTM 28,1 Downloaded by UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI ROMA LA SAPIENZA, Doctor Mojtaba Khorram Niaki At 03:14 21 March 2017 (PT)