Is 3D Printing an Enabling Technology for Manufacturing Reshoring?

Technologies embodied in the “Industry 4.0” concept are expected to heavily influence the competitiveness of countries, industries and companies. In this scenario, one of the most relevant technological transformations is represented by additive manufacturing technologies (AMTs). According to some scholars and practitioners, the adoption of such technologies may have a relevant impact on the location of production activities of many manufactured goods. This paper aims to verify the hypothesis that AMTs may act as an enabling technology for manufacturing reshoring, i.e., repatriation of (in-/outsourced) production activities earlier offshored. The paper adopts an explorative research approach based on secondary data belonging to the Uni-CLUB MoRe Reshoring dataset, containing information on more than 700 manufacturing reshoring decisions implemented by companies headquartered in the main Western countries. Based on such a dataset, eight companies were selected since they based their reshoring decisions on the adoption of AMTs. Findings from the analyzed case studies seem to confirm adoption of such technologies may contribute to the firm’s decision to repatriate production in the home country. At the same time, AMTs seem to influence the firm’s decision in terms of governance mode.