Global Factory Revisited in Light of the Emergence of 3D Printing: Disruptive Technologies and International Business

The emergent technology commonly known as 3D printing is shifting the nature of manufacturing, sourcing, and other value-chain activities. The technology has the potential to substantially disrupt the structure and operations of international business. In this paper, we leverage the explanatory power of the global factory (e.g., Buckley and Ghauri, 2004) to frame our discussion of the likely impact of 3D printing. We develop models to highlight the variables and relationships most suited to our explication and offer a nuanced explanation of the potential impact of 3D printing on the global industrial ecosystem. Key variables that we identify include affordability, customization, logistical impracticality, delivery, demand, sustainability, materiality and materials,
standardization, technical competencies, size, standards, complexity, and intellectual property rights. We conceptualize a continuum on 3D’s likely impact that spans de-globalization to globally distributed manufacturing identified with the global factory paradigm. We conceptualize the potential re-distribution of
global manufacturing at four levels of analysis – global, country, local area, and household – and offer examples of how such production might evolve. We conclude with a discussion of managerial and practical implications.