Business Models and Advanced Additive Manufacturing strategies for better sustainability

This article explores the impact of Additive Manufacturing (AM) on business models in the context of manufacturing sustainability. We define two new standards of sustainable business models enabled by AM and discuss their potential advantages in addressing specific manufacturing challenges. The technological advancements brought about by AM have significantly influenced the manufacturing industry, fostering innovation and reshaping market structures and value-creation processes. Notably, AM contributes to sustainability by reducing material waste and transportation costs, establishing itself as a low-impact manufacturing technology. While AM is not positioned to entirely replace traditional manufacturing processes, organizations can leverage its integration with these processes to catalyze business model innovation. To expand the market for AM technologies, it is crucial to examine AM not only from a process and technology perspective but also in terms of its ability to eliminate the need for tooling and dies, which are typically produced through energy-intensive methods. Advanced manufacturing techniques can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, pollution, and time to market, demonstrating AM’s potential energy-saving benefits across various sectors.