Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/230133 
Year of Publication: 
2019
Citation: 
[Journal:] Journal of Operations Management [ISSN:] 1873-1317 [Volume:] 65 [Issue:] 8 [Publisher:] Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [Place:] Boston, USA [Year:] 2019 [Pages:] 810-826
Publisher: 
Wiley Periodicals, Inc., Boston, USA
Abstract: 
Spare parts are a particularly interesting application for switching production from traditional manufacturing (TM) to additive manufacturing (AM). Research assessing AM has primarily addressed cost models centering on the production process or the operations management of separate spare parts. By combining case study, modeling, and design science elements, we adopt a holistic perspective and develop a design to examine the systematic leverage of AM in spare parts operations. Contextually grounded in problems faced by a leading material handling equipment manufacturer that is challenged by common characteristics of after-sales operations, we engage with practice to propose a portfolio level analysis examining the switchover share from TM to AM. Using a data set of 53,457 spare parts over 9 years, we find that up to 8% of stock keeping units (SKUs) and 2% of total units supplied could be produced using AM, even if unit production costs are four times those of TM. This result is driven by low demand, high fixed costs, and minimum order quantities in TM. Finally, we present the evaluation by the case company's management and highlight five areas of opportunity and challenge.
Subjects: 
3D printing
additive manufacturing
portfolio level analysis
spare parts management
switchover share
Persistent Identifier of the first edition: 
Creative Commons License: 
cc-by Logo
Document Type: 
Article
Document Version: 
Published Version

Files in This Item:
File
Size





Items in EconStor are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.