The implications of additive manufacturing for hospital supply chain operations: an exploratory study

Purpose Grounded in the resource-based view, this study aims to explore the implications of adopting additive manufacturing (AM), also known as three-dimensional (3D) printing, for hospital supply chain operations in Norway. Design/methodology/approach An exploratory qualitative approach is used. Comparative design is used to explore the implications of using AM for two of the largest hospitals in Norway. Semistructured interviews are conducted to collect primary data from experts involved in AM technology and hospital supply chain operations. Inductive thematic analysis is used to examine, organize and interpret the data. Findings Major implications of AM adoption for hospital supply chain operations in Norway are identified and discussed. The findings suggest that AM can reduce supply risks and provide hospitals with greater control over medical part availability. AM offers diversification benefits, enabling hospitals to produce a wide range of products in-house and reduce reliance on foreign suppliers. However, for hospitals to fully leverage AM’s potential, critical barriers such as quality assurance, cost-effectiveness and regulatory compliance should be addressed. Research limitations/implications The focus of the study is on Norwegian hospital supply chains. Future research is required to validate the findings in other supply chain settings for generalizability. Practical implications Practitioners can draw on the findings to assess the advantages and challenges of AM technology adoption in the context of hospital supply chain operations. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is among the first studies to empirically examine the effects of AM technology adoption on hospital supply chain operations.