Purpose

Additive manufacturing (AM) is one technology among the many under the umbrella of Industry 4.0 technologies. AM is developing rapidly, and extant research reveals that the technology contains possibilities for firms to develop competitive advantages, but that it also poses several challenges to overcome before such benefits can be achieved. To provide further insight into this topic, this paper aims to analyse how a business association can disseminate knowledge and experience about AM to its members.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on 13 interviews from 11 different organisations within an embedded single-case study of a Danish non-profit business association.

Findings

The paper identifies 12 motivational factors for joining the association as well as seven perceived challenges in the current setup of the association. The paper demonstrates that barriers to the use of AM can be reduced through participation in a business association.

Research limitations/implications

The paper is based on a single-case study design and does not provide a foundation for statistical generalisations. The challenges identified are biased towards the companies that are members and do not represent companies that either consciously or unconsciously are not part of the association.

Practical implications

Being aware of the barriers for AM is important to optimize the benefits of joining a business association. However, operating such an association with the purpose of disseminating AM knowledge involves the inherent dilemma of protecting knowledge for the individual members, and at the same time, fostering knowledge sharing.

Originality/value

The paper provides novel data on how a business association can help mitigate perceived barriers to using AM.

中文翻译：

---

通过非营利协会传播增材制造的动机和挑战

目的

增材制造（AM）是工业4.0技术框架下的众多技术之一。AM的发展迅速，现有研究表明，该技术为企业创造竞争优势提供了可能性，但在实现此类优势之前，它也面临一些挑战。为了提供对该主题的进一步了解，本文旨在分析商业协会如何向其成员传播有关AM的知识和经验。

设计/方法/方法

该论文基于对一个丹麦非营利性商业协会的嵌入式单例研究中来自11个不同组织的13次采访。

发现

本文确定了加入该协会的12个动机因素，以及在当前协会设置中的七个可感知挑战。本文表明，可以通过参加商业协会来减少使用AM的障碍。

研究局限/意义

本文基于单案例研究设计，没有为统计概括提供基础。所确定的挑战偏向于成员公司，而不代表有意或无意不属于该协会的公司。

实际影响

意识到AM的障碍对于优化加入商业协会的利益很重要。但是，以传播AM知识为目的进行这种关联会涉及固有的难题，即保护单个成员的知识，同时促进知识共享。

创意/价值

本文提供了有关业务协会如何帮助减轻使用AM的已知障碍的新颖数据。