Internationalization, value-chain configuration, and the adoption of additive manufacturing technologies

In this study, we empirically explore the relationships among process innovation, internationalization, and the reconfiguration of the firm’s activities at the global level. In particular, we analyze the extent to which these factors are related to the propensity to adopt additive manufacturing (AM) technologies. Internationalization and value-chain configuration are measured using various dimensions, and we find that the impact on the adoption of AM technologies is moderated by the firms’ absorptive capacity. Our empirical findings are drawn from a proprietary database covering 197 manufacturing firms.