The Impact of Additive Manufacturing on Supply Chain Management: Trends, Challenges and Future Directions

As globalization and market competition increase, enhancing supply chain efficiency, responsiveness, and sustainability becomes critical. Technological advances and managerial changes, especially Industry 4.0 and lean philosophy, contribute to this evolving landscape. Additive manufacturing, a prominent element of Industry 4.0, offers significant benefits such as waste reduction and the possibility of greater customization and flexibility of production processes. Despite its relatively recent adoption, additive manufacturing has demonstrated substantial benefits in several industries. This study analyzes the impact, trends and key challenges associated with the implementation of additive manufacturing across the supply chain, including procurement, manufacturing plant location, inventory, distribution and reverse logistics. To fully understand these implications, a literature review was conducted using the Scopus database, focusing on papers published between 2014 and 2023. The results highlight the transformative potential of additive manufacturing in supply chain management and provide guidance on the future integration of this technology.