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Cited by 150Global trade, sustainability, and social impactGlobal trade and economicsAdditive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies

From smiling to smirking? 3D printing, upgrading and the restructuring of global value chains

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REHNBERG, MÄRTHA, PONTE, STEFANO·2018·Global Networks
DOI 10.1111/glob.12166
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Abstract

Abstract 3D printing (3DP) has been heralded as a revolutionary technology that can alter the way production is organized across time and space – with important redistributive effects on geography and size of production activities. In this article, we examine the impacts that a widespread adoption of 3DP could have on restructuring, upgrading and distributing value added along manufacturing global value chains (GVC) – with brief examples from the aerospace and automotive industries. We highlight two possible scenarios for GVCs – a complementarity scenario of 3DP and traditional manufacturing overlapping, which would reproduce power relations in GVCs and the current distribution of value added in a ‘smiling curve’; and a substitution scenario of 3DP partly or fully superseding traditional manufacturing, which would have more transformational effects in terms of ‘rebundling’ activities, regionalizing or localizing GVCs, and flattening the smiling curve into a ‘smirk’.

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  • Latest technology, such as 3D printing, is likely to impact GVCs of relevant industries by making them shorter, more dispersed, more local, and closer to end users.

    “Further, the latest technology, such as 3D printing, is likely to impact GVCs of relevant industries by making them shorter, more dispersed, more local, and closer to end users (Laplume et al., 2016;Rehnberg & Ponte, 2018).”

    From Global value chains: A review of the multi-disciplinary literature (2020) · cites this paper as Rehnberg & Ponte, 2018

  • As more local firms can participate in the production of high-value components through 3D printing, their need for technological acquisition and/or specialized components through MNE lead firms in GVCs may be reduced, leading to unbundling and rebundling of GVC activities towards regionalized or even localized GVCs.

    “As more local firms can participate in the production of high-value components through 3D printing, their need for technological acquisition and/or specialized components through MNE lead firms in GVCs may be reduced, leading to what Rehnberg and Ponte (2018) call ''unbundling'' and ''rebundling'' of GVC activities towards regionalized or even localized GVCs.”

    From Global value chains: A review of the multi-disciplinary literature (2020) · cites this paper as Rehnberg and Ponte, 2018

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Authors
REHNBERG, M., & PONTE, S.
Affiliations
  • DareDisrupt 4C Baggensensgade 2200 Copenhagen N Denmark
  • Copenhagen Business School (DK)
Corresponding author
PONTE, STEFANO
ORCID
PONTE, STEFANO
Venue
Global Networks
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2017-06-20
Volume
18
Issue
1
Pages
57-80
ISSN
  • 1470-2266 (ISSN-L)
  • 1471-0374
DOI
10.1111/glob.12166
OpenAlex
W2643656244
Cited by
150
References
2
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 20 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 30 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 34 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 1
FWCI
28.81
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations
  • Global Networks (publishedVersion)
  • CBS Research Portal (Copenhagen Business School) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Strategy and Management › Global trade, sustainability, and social impact
  • Social Sciences › Economics, Econometrics and Finance › General Economics, Econometrics and Finance › Global trade and economics
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Automotive Engineering › Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies
Keywords
3D printing, global value chains, value added distribution, manufacturing upgrading, regionalization of production, aerospace industry, automotive industry, technology adoption

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