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In recent years there has been an increasing competitiveness in the automotive sector with companies having to respond to an increasingly diverse choice of customers. Additionally, the incorporation of several technological features in cars and the consequent dependence on several electrical systems has increased the complexity and demands of the wire harness manufacturing and testing process. The high variability that these products present has required the production of test equipment highly diverse and, therefore, with a high customisation factor. The adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies has proven to confer flexibility to production processes, increasing their efficiency, without compromising quality, production costs and product manufacturing cycle times. Thus, the application of this type of technologies in the industrial context of the production of harness test equipment could prove beneficial. This paper aims to propose a solution network composed by Industry 4.0 technologies and based on the Internet of Things concept, which, in the context of manufacturing methodologies, could make the productive system more efficient and less prone to failures. As a case study, a wire harness test equipment company was analysed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today's business setting is becoming increasingly dynamic and characterised by various technological advancements. Knowledge, as well as how it is shared and preserved inside the organisations, has become a volatile active source of competitive advantage. As a result, instruments to assist organisations in managing their knowledge and leveraging value generation are required. Knowledge management processes are even more critical for companies that use or can use Additive Manufacturing Technology (AM), which is frequently linked to 3D printing, because they are in a disruptive and emergent industry, which utilises innovative and complex products, whose business models' dynamic is still unknown. Although the tremendous potential that is presented by this technology, there are still many concerns about its future advancements and implications on society and business models. This paper aims to answer the question: What are the impacts of the adoption of AM technology on companies' business models? Moreover, to answer the question of what knowledge management strategies can be adopted to increase the competitiveness and sustainability in the business models, in companies using AM technology? To achieve the objectives, a literature review was performed. The results demonstrated that the disruptions created by technology are not yet known to many companies. Similarly, knowledge of the impacts on business models and other elements of sustainability is limited. In terms of originality, the goal of this research is to contribute to and encourage data-driven debates about the potential implications of AM adoption on knowledge management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, new ways of approaching the manufacturing processes have gained importance. The need for greater personalization of goods and the creation of differentiated parts, combined with the urgency to innovate both on the part of companies and consumers, gave rise to the FabLab - fabrication laboratory - concept, which aims to bring together people and technologically advanced tools that are usually expensive and not widely available. FabLabs are spaces that are open to the entire community, allowing their users to become designers and producers of their products. Among the new manufacturing techniques, used in the FabLabs, the concept of additive manufacturing stands out, namely with the use of 3D printers that allow customization and flexibility for low volume productions. This paper presents an exploratory study of the profitability and impacts of FabLabs in Portugal, comparing their management, use and relevance, taking into consideration whether the investment is private or public. In addition, this study aims to highlight the importance of FabLabs as agile places of innovation exploring solutions to problems in the digital society. A quantitative methodology was used based on a questionnaire applied to FabLab managers in Portugal. The study concluded that there are significant differences between FabLabs. Those that received private investment are companies with a larger structure, more demand and higher turnover. On the other hand, companies that are mostly financed by public investment have lower demand. Private FabLabs have a greater focus on organizations that finance them, while public investment based FabLabs' are more concerned about the mission of providing tools to the community, helping to educate the population. This study showed that, in terms of profitability, these organizations are not self-sufficient. The profitability requires a change in people's mindsets, a greater involvement between the organizations and the promotion of curiosity to encourage its use to generate innovation and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current business environment with increasingly dynamic and with numerous technological innovations, human resources and the generated know-how are volatile. Knowledge and the way it is shared and retained in organizations has become a source of competitive advantage. It is, therefore, necessary to develop tools to help companies manage their knowledge and use it to leverage value creation. In the case of companies that use or can use additive manufacturing technology, often associated with 3D printing, knowledge management processes are even more important since they are part of a disruptive and emerging industry with innovative and complex products whose business models' dynamics is not yet fully understood. Despite the great opportunities that this technology could provide, the uncertainties concerning its future developments and impacts on business models still remain. The goal of this literature review study is to get insights into publications that relate Additive Manufacturing Technology and Knowledge Management. The method used in this study is based on the analysis of all the data obtained from ISI Web of Science and Scopus. In terms of originality, this study aims to contribute and stimulate data-driven discussions regarding the possible impacts of the adoption of additive manufacturing regarding knowledge management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]