TITLE:
Network Based Technology Roadmapping for Future Markets: Case of 3D Printing
AUTHORS:
Katherine Tucker, David Tucker, James Eastham, Elizabeth Gibson, Sumir Varma, Tugrul Daim
KEYWORDS:
Technology Roadmap, 3D Printing, Technology Investment Strategies, Product Strategy, Network Based Technology Roadmap, NB-TRM
JOURNAL NAME:
Technology and Investment,
Vol.5 No.3,
August
18,
2014
ABSTRACT: A clear and understandable Technology Roadmap (TRM)
is necessary to planning and navigating change in the product development
process. The fabric of the 3D printing landscape is complex and difficult to
understand from single snapshot approach and a TRM is only as useful as it is
understandable and easily communicable. Successful Technology Roadmapping
involves expert industry analysis, technology expertise, and visual story
telling. This research builds upon the principles of existing Technology
Roadmapping practices to develop models that apply to the consumer market of
the 3D content-to-print industry. In managing the involved complexity, multiple
tools and methods have been explored, focusing on the efficacy and legibility
of TRM’s. Literature review, analysis of market forces, patent analysis, and
quality functional deployment (QFD) were used to establish current and future
market drivers and subsequent product features. Technology forecasting and
scenario analysis were then used to create product portfolios for 3D content
manufactures. The application and research explored creating two future product
scenario’s; a low cost (LC) product that would maintain the current state of
the art performance metrics tailored to the mass market consumer and a high
performance (HP) product that would continue to push the capability of the at
home manufacturing performance. These bifurcating foci further complicate the
visual illustration of these roadmaps. An exercise in visual display of a large
blanket of networks and relationships has led to a powerful tool used to
identify future reach and impacts of early technological investments.