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Article
Publication date: 15 October 2021

Yuan Huang, Daniel R. Eyers, Mark Stevenson and Matthias Thürer

The study aims to examine a discrepant industrial case that demonstrates how to achieve economies of scale with additive manufacturing (AM), thereby expanding the scope of AM…

823

Abstract

Purpose

The study aims to examine a discrepant industrial case that demonstrates how to achieve economies of scale with additive manufacturing (AM), thereby expanding the scope of AM beyond high-variety, customised production contexts.

Design/methodology/approach

Abductive reasoning is applied to analyse a case of using AM to compete with conventional production, winning a contract to supply 7,700,000 products. Comparing this case to existing theories and contemporary practices reveals new research directions and practical insights.

Findings

Economies of scale were realised through a combination of technological innovation and the adoption of operations management practices atypical of AM shops (e.g. design for volume, low-cost resource deployment and material flow optimisation). The former improved AM process parameters in terms of time, cost and dependability; the latter improved the entire manufacturing system, including non-AM operations/resources. This system-wide improvement has been largely overlooked in the literature, where AM is typically viewed as a disruptive technology that simplifies manufacturing processes and shortens supply chains.

Originality/value

It is empirically shown that an AM shop can achieve economies of scale and compete with conventional manufacturing in high-volume, standardised production contexts.

Details

International Journal of Operations & Production Management, vol. 41 no. 12
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0144-3577

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Article
Publication date: 29 June 2022

Robin Hofmeester and Daniel R. Eyers

There is now much emphasis in both research and practice on the principles of circular economies. In this paper remanufacturing is examined as a key enabler of circular practices…

269

Abstract

Purpose

There is now much emphasis in both research and practice on the principles of circular economies. In this paper remanufacturing is examined as a key enabler of circular practices, and the concept of “Product-Agnostic Manufacturing” (PAR) is proposed. This work differentiates PAR from many traditional approaches to remanufacturing by virtue of PAR's treatment of product variety. Most existing approaches to remanufacturing feature low variety and standardisation; this study instead suggests that the exploitation of flexibilities in both operations and supply chains leads to new competitive strategies for firms to exploit.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a conceptual study that builds on a thorough exploration of contemporary remanufacturing literature in the development of the new PAR concept.

Findings

Through a detailed literature review it is shown that there are a range of benefits, challenges, and critical success factors that underpin the remanufacturing concept. Building on this understanding and bridging literature in operations flexibility and supply chain design, a detailed discussion on the nature of PAR is provided, and an agenda for future research developed.

Originality/value

Whilst there has been much literature on remanufacturing, there is a general tendency to treat supply chain and remanufacturing operations quite distinctly in individual articles. Additionally, there has been little consideration of multi-product remanufacturing, and for the limited studies where this is done, the emphasis is typically on problem avoidance. This study aims to provide a detailed insight into the developed PAR concept, showing how the remanufacture of a wide range of product varieties may be achieved through flexible operations and supply chain design.

Details

The International Journal of Logistics Management, vol. 34 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0957-4093

Keywords

Available. Open Access. Open Access
Article
Publication date: 6 November 2017

Michael J. Ryan, Daniel R. Eyers, Andrew T. Potter, Laura Purvis and Jonathan Gosling

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the existing scenarios for 3D printing (3DP) in order to identify the “white space” where future opportunities have not been proposed or…

11039

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the existing scenarios for 3D printing (3DP) in order to identify the “white space” where future opportunities have not been proposed or developed to date. Based around aspects of order penetration points, geographical scope and type of manufacturing, these gaps are identified.

Design/methodology/approach

A structured literature review has been carried out on both academic and trade publications. As of the end of May 2016, this identified 128 relevant articles containing 201 future scenarios. Coding these against aspects of existing manufacturing and supply chain theory has led to the development of a framework to identify “white space” in the existing thinking.

Findings

The coding shows that existing future scenarios are particularly concentrated on job shop applications and pull-based supply chain processes, although there are fewer constraints on geographical scope. Five distinct areas of “white space” are proposed, reflecting various opportunities for future 3DP supply chain development.

Research limitations/implications

Being a structured literature review, there are potentially articles not identified through the search criteria used. The nature of the findings is also dependent upon the coding criteria selected. However, these are theoretically derived and reflect important aspect of strategic supply chain management.

Practical implications

Practitioners may wish to explore the development of business models within the “white space” areas.

Originality/value

Currently, existing future 3DP scenarios are scattered over a wide, multi-disciplinary literature base. By providing a consolidated view of these scenarios, it is possible to identify gaps in current thinking. These gaps are multi-disciplinary in nature and represent opportunities for both academics and practitioners to exploit.

Details

International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, vol. 47 no. 10
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0960-0035

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Article
Publication date: 26 June 2019

Mia Delic, Daniel R. Eyers and Josip Mikulic

Additive Manufacturing offers much potential for industry, but at the same time is likely to have a significant impact on supply chain theory and practice. To-date there has been…

3226

Abstract

Purpose

Additive Manufacturing offers much potential for industry, but at the same time is likely to have a significant impact on supply chain theory and practice. To-date there has been limited empirical work exploring the effect of Additive Manufacturing, and this study aims to provide a detailed appraisal of how supply chain integration, supply chain performance and firm performance may be affected by the adoption of Additive Manufacturing. These are critical factors for supply chain management, but have received little quantified attention to date.

Design/methodology/approach

A theoretical model is developed from a detailed review of the literature, from which a quantitative analysis is performed. Using data collected from 124 automotive manufacturers in European Union and the partial least square- structural equation modeling method, the research examines the relationships among different dimensions of supply chain integration, supply chain performance and firm performance from the perspective of Additive Manufacturing adoption.

Findings

The findings indicate that Additive Manufacturing adoption positively influences supply chain performance and as a consequence, firm performance. In addition, supporting the resource-based view perspective, the results show a positive indirect effect of supply chain integration on the supply chain and firm performance improvements, enabled by the Additive Manufacturing adoption. This helps to explain some inconsistent findings in previous research regarding the impacts of supply chain integration on performance.

Research limitations/implications

The results of this study support the view that Additive Manufacturing can make a positive contribution to the supply chain, but this is not achieved solely by the technologies alone. Many of the traditional activities of supply chain management (i.e. integration) are still needed when using Additive Manufacturing, and research needs to understand whether Additive Manufacturing adoption will necessitate changes to the way these traditional activities are undertaken. Building on the findings of the current study, much more work is therefore needed to understand how operations within the supply chain may be changed, and how this may affect the integration and performance of the supply chain.

Practical implications

This study provides quantitative evidence to show that the adoption of Additive Manufacturing has the potential to affect both firm and supply chain performance. This is significant for those companies considering the adoption of Additive Manufacturing, and may serve as a valuable insight in the strategic decision-making process. For those already using Additive Manufacturing, this study serves to underline the potential for firm performance to be influenced, by focusing on improvements to their production strategies and policies.

Originality/value

This study provides an initial insight into some fundamental supply chain concepts within an Additive Manufacturing context, which have received very little research attention. It develops a novel conceptual model, and through a large-scale industry survey provides quantified evidence of the impact of Additive Manufacturing on the supply chain. To date, much of the supply chain research is exploratory and qualitative; the quantitative evidence presented in this work, therefore, makes an important and original contribution to both research and practice.

Details

Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, vol. 24 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1359-8546

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Article
Publication date: 10 August 2018

Daniel R. Eyers, Andrew T. Potter, Jonathan Gosling and Mohamed M. Naim

Flexibility is a fundamental performance objective for manufacturing operations, allowing them to respond to changing requirements in uncertain and competitive global markets…

2213

Abstract

Purpose

Flexibility is a fundamental performance objective for manufacturing operations, allowing them to respond to changing requirements in uncertain and competitive global markets. Additive manufacturing machines are often described as “flexible,” but there is no detailed understanding of such flexibility in an operations management context. The purpose of this paper is to examine flexibility from a manufacturing systems perspective, demonstrating the different competencies that can be achieved and the factors that can inhibit these in commercial practice.

Design/methodology/approach

This study extends existing flexibility theory in the context of an industrial additive manufacturing system through an investigation of 12 case studies, covering a range of sectors, product volumes, and technologies. Drawing upon multiple sources, this research takes a manufacturing systems perspective that recognizes the multitude of different resources that, together with individual industrial additive manufacturing machines, contribute to the satisfaction of demand.

Findings

The results show that the manufacturing system can achieve seven distinct internal flexibility competencies. This ability was shown to enable six out of seven external flexibility capabilities identified in the literature. Through a categorical assessment the extent to which each competency can be achieved is identified, supported by a detailed explanation of the enablers and inhibitors of flexibility for industrial additive manufacturing systems.

Originality/value

Additive manufacturing is widely expected to make an important contribution to future manufacturing, yet relevant management research is scant and the flexibility term is often ambiguously used. This research contributes the first detailed examination of flexibility for industrial additive manufacturing systems.

Details

International Journal of Operations & Production Management, vol. 38 no. 12
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0144-3577

Keywords

Available. Content available
Article
Publication date: 26 October 2018

Mohamed M. Naim, Daniel R. Eyers and Andrej Lisec

715

Abstract

Details

The International Journal of Logistics Management, vol. 29 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0957-4093

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Article
Publication date: 7 April 2015

Daniel R Eyers and Andrew T Potter

Whilst there has been considerable research on the use of electronic communications technologies to transfer design files for Additive Manufacturing (AM) between designer and…

3924

Abstract

Purpose

Whilst there has been considerable research on the use of electronic communications technologies to transfer design files for Additive Manufacturing (AM) between designer and manufacturer, corresponding studies that explore the resulting implications are limited. Often it is assumed that such an electronic approach is optimal; this paper serves to explore this assumption by reviewing the technical solutions, and identifying the practical implications. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

The results of a systematic literature review are used to develop four e-commerce channel designs, which are then explored using primary and secondary case studies.

Findings

It is shown that the use of e-commerce with AM has often been oversimplified, suggesting that it will bring about universal benefits through increased efficiency and cost reductions in information transfer, particularly as a result of supply chain disintermediation. Instead, this paper reinforces current e-commerce research suggesting that e-commerce channels can lead to both disintermediation but also re-intermediation of the supply chain; cost reductions and increased efficiency may not automatically follow.

Practical implications

For AM suppliers, channel strategy is likely to be a critical consideration. This paper provides a framework of currently available approaches, links these to the original research, and explains the implications arising from each option.

Originality/value

Whilst there are many technical studies in this area, the potential implications of their adoption are often hypothesized, but seldom explored empirically. This study makes an original contribution through the classification and analysis of the channels from a management perspective.

Details

Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, vol. 26 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1741-038X

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Article
Publication date: 28 September 2012

Shwe P. Soe, Daniel R. Eyers, Toby Jones and Nigel Nayling

The purpose of this paper is to examine the suitability of additive manufacturing technologies in the reconstruction of archaeological discoveries as illustrative models. The…

766

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the suitability of additive manufacturing technologies in the reconstruction of archaeological discoveries as illustrative models. The processes of reverse engineering and part fabrication are discussed in detail, with particular emphasis placed on the difficulties of managing scaling and material characteristics for the manufacturing process.

Design/methodology/approach

Through a case‐based approach, this paper examines the reconstruction of a fifteenth‐century ship recovered from the River Usk in South Wales, UK. Using interviews and process data, the paper identifies challenges for both archaeologists and manufacturers in the application of additive manufacturing technologies for archaeological reconstruction applications.

Findings

This paper illustrates both the suitability of additive manufacturing in archaeological restoration, but also the challenges which result from this approach. It demonstrates the practical considerations of scaling process and materials, whilst also highlighting the techniques to improve accuracy and mechanical properties of the model.

Originality/value

Whilst the technologies of additive manufacturing have previously been applied to model making, little scholarly research has considered the practical techniques of design elicitation and manufacturing for archaeological applications. Using an in‐depth case study, this paper highlights the principal considerations for these applications, and provides guidance in the mitigation of manufacturing issues.

Details

Rapid Prototyping Journal, vol. 18 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1355-2546

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Article
Publication date: 18 February 2025

Xinyue Hao, Emrah Demir and Daniel Eyers

The purpose of this study is to provide a holistic understanding of the factors that either promote or hinder the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in supply chain…

2

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to provide a holistic understanding of the factors that either promote or hinder the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in supply chain management (SCM) and operations management (OM). By segmenting the AI lifecycle and examining the interactions between critical success factors and critical failure factors, this study aims to offer predictive insights that can help in proactively managing these factors, ultimately reducing the risk of failure, and facilitating a smoother transition into AI-enabled SCM and OM.

Design/methodology/approach

This study develops a knowledge graph model of the AI lifecycle, divided into pre-development, deployment and post-development stages. The methodology combines a comprehensive literature review for ontology extraction and expert surveys to establish relationships among ontologies. Using exploratory factor analysis, composite reliability and average variance extracted ensures the validity of constructed dimensions. Pearson correlation analysis is applied to quantify the strength and significance of relationships between entities, providing metrics for labeling the edges in the resource description framework.

Findings

This study identifies 11 dimensions critical for AI integration in SCM and OM: (1) setting clear goals and standards; (2) ensuring accountable AI with leadership-driven strategies; (3) activating leadership to bridge expertise gaps; (4) gaining a competitive edge through expert partnerships and advanced IT infrastructure; (5) improving data quality through customer demand; (6) overcoming AI resistance via awareness of benefits; (7) linking domain knowledge to infrastructure robustness; (8) enhancing stakeholder engagement through effective communication; (9) strengthening AI robustness and change management via training and governance; (10) using key performance indicators-driven reviews for AI performance management; (11) ensuring AI accountability and copyright integrity through governance.

Originality/value

This study enhances decision-making by developing a knowledge graph model that segments the AI lifecycle into pre-development, deployment and post-development stages, introducing a novel approach in SCM and OM research. By incorporating a predictive element that uses knowledge graphs to anticipate outcomes from interactions between ontologies. These insights assist practitioners in making informed decisions about AI use, improving the overall quality of decisions in managing AI integration and ensuring a smoother transition into AI-enabled SCM and OM.

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Article
Publication date: 31 January 2025

Shicheng Chen, Daniel Roy Eyers, Jonathan Gosling and Yuan Huang

Whilst there has been much research examining risk management in construction supply chains, there is a relative dearth of knowledge concerning small and medium-sized enterprises…

19

Abstract

Purpose

Whilst there has been much research examining risk management in construction supply chains, there is a relative dearth of knowledge concerning small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in this context. SMEs are considered vulnerable economic agents due to their financial constraints and reduced viability compared to large firms. This study aims to fill this gap by providing a comprehensive review, identifying key challenges in the research and generating a future research agenda.

Design/methodology/approach

A structured literature review was conducted in this study, resulting in the identification of 106 articles that relate to construction SME risks. Thematic analysis was then employed to determine the supply chain risk themes. Additionally, VOSviewer was employed to depict content frequency and, most recently, trends based on the timeline.

Findings

This paper uncovers eight distinct supply chain risks pertinent to construction SMEs, arranging these into three themes from the standpoint of supply chain risk management. Moreover, it identifies six gaps in the existing body of research on construction SMEs and puts forth prospective research directions and questions to address each of these identified gaps.

Originality/value

The practical significance of this study is to provide SMEs in the construction industry with a comprehensive framework for identifying and categorizing risks related to management and strategy, operations and processes and sustainability. With this framework, SMEs can systematically assess potential risks at all stages of a project.

Details

The International Journal of Logistics Management, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0957-4093

Keywords

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