Research on the relationship between service-oriented manufacturing platforms and customer enterprise innovation — Evidence from the 3D printing industry

• Main Author: ZHAO, Donglai
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University 2023
• Subjects: Service-oriented Manufacturing Platform; Platform Empowerment; MSME Innovation; Bering3D Technology; Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations; Technology and Innovation
• Online Access: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/etd_coll/460; https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/context/etd_coll/article/1458/viewcontent/GPBF_AY2023_PhD_ZHaoDonglai.pdf
• Institution: Singapore Management University

Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) are highly flexible and creative and play a significant role in the national economy and in employment, innovation, and entrepreneurship. However, due to their relatively small size, low technical level, lack of funds and talent, and backward management, they generally face development predicaments, such as the pressure to survive and weak anti-risk abilities. Therefore, in addition to leveraging their initiative to develop their competitive strength, making full use of external public service resources has become one approach MSMEs can take to find a way out of such predicaments. Various service-oriented manufacturing platform enterprises have recently emerged in China, under the policy guidance of central and local governments. These apply next-generation information technologies, such as the industrial internet, to empower new manufacturing and promote new services. The development of new business types and new service-oriented manufacturing models is essential to enhance the quality and efficiency of the manufacturing industry and facilitate its transformation and upgrading. This paper focuses on Bering3D Technology, a Chinese 3D printing technology service platform company, as the case study. Bering3D Technology represents a typical service manufacturing platform enterprise. An analysis of the specific service path of the enterprise reveals three main empowerment mechanisms: technology, information, and product empowerment. The influence of these three mechanisms on MSME innovation performance is examined and a questionnaire survey is conducted. This study extends the relevant literature on platform empowerment and MSME innovation.