Roshan Bhurtha, Prof Geoffrey Bick
Abstract
The additive manufacturing (AM) industry, commonly known as 3D printing, is an integral part of the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) and has a growing international market. South African industries have adopted AM but are not exploiting its full potential. The aim of this study was to determine the critical factors affecting the adoption of AM in South Africa, the main role players in this industry and the drivers behind the adoption of this technology.
A qualitative approach was followed, which consisted of in-depth semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of eleven industry experts in the AM value chain in South Africa. The data were content analysed to identify the main themes, which were compared to the results of the literature review.
The critical factors in the adoption of AM in South Africa were identified as knowledge, external, financial, technical and market. The main role players affecting the AM industry are government institutions, commercial entities, RAPDASA, educational institutions and software developers. The drivers of AM in South Africa were identified as cost savings, the need to exploit South Africa’s significant Titanium reserves and the ability to protect local IP (Intellectual Property).
The theoretical contribution of the study was the application of the T-O-E (Technology-Organisation-Environment) framework, as well as the practical insights of a developing industry.