The Determinants and Business Impact of Additive Manufacturing Technology Adoption: A Case of Ethiopian Metal Manufacturing Industries
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Date
2024-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Additive Manufacturing (AM) technology, also called 3D-printing, is a disruptive technology providing opportunities and huge potential benefits through innovative way of manufacturing products. This study is concerned with identifying the determinants for adoption of Additive Manufacturing technology within Ethiopian metal manufacturing industries. In light of this objective, the study adopts both quantitative and qualitative approaches with purposive sampling. The quantitative approach used 7-likert scale questionnaire for empirical analysis of the data to determine the factors that influence the adoption of AM technology. For the qualitative approach, an interview is conducted to determine the business impact and the challenges of adopting AM technology. A sample of team leaders, engineers, metal researchers, technicians, IT professionals and quality controllers is taken to capture their opinions, views and reflections about the determinants for adopting AM technology in metal manufacturing industries. A self-administered questionnaire is used to rate the influence of technological, organizational, and environmental determinants on the decision to adopt the technology. Both SPSS and SmartPLS software tools are used for descriptive statistics analysis and structural equation modeling (SEM) of the collected data respectively. Results indicate that out of the determinants, the perceived value, perceived cost, top management support, organizational readiness, external pressure and perceived outside support affecting significantly a decision for adopting AM technology. The study further explores the benefits, potential business impact and the challenges of adopting AM technology in metal manufacturing industries. This study's contribution is to provide academics, business people and policymakers with insightful information about the determinants that influence AM technology adoption and its benefits enabling them to implement the necessary initiatives or policies that are essential for the technology to be adopted successfully. Lastly the study recommends further research in this field.
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Keywords
Additive Manufacturing, 3D-Printing, Metal Manufacturing, Technological-Organizational-Environmental Adoption Model