Despite the advances and significant benefits of additive manufacturing globally, Africa and several developing countries are lagging behind due to several adoption barriers. South Africa has nevertheless made significant gains in the area of additive manufacturing over the past three decades. The current study examines the critical success factors that have led to South Africa’s relative success in the field of additive manufacturing by overcoming the barriers. One of such success factors was the demonstration of visionary leadership and commitment to additive manufacturing through huge investments. The building of human capital through education and research in the area of additive manufacturing is another factor. The development of a strong collaboration between industry and research involving both local and international institutions represents another success factor in South Africa’s additive manufacturing growth. Lastly, a positive national culture that drives the adoption of new technologies which is defined by the display of low power distance, high individuality, masculinity, and lower uncertainty avoidance index is another success factor of additive manufacturing in South Africa.

Additively manufactured products offer extensive variety to consumers than many forms of production. Additive manufacturing (AM) production system allows consumer involvement, which has created a huge but largely untapped market. However, there is a gap between production and the market. Therefore, AM towards product production which focuses on the Commercialization of Additive Manufactured Products (CAMPs) is imperative. Despite the importance of CAMP, specific focus of research on the commercialization of additively manufactured products are scanty. There is also a lack of knowledge about the conceptual structure, intellectual structure, research trends, and the thematic structure of CAMP research. To contribute to this stream of research, this study takes an exploratory dimension by conducting a bibliometric analysis of publications on the CAMP. The R package and its associated biblioshiny were the software used. The study reveals that studies on CAMP started in 2007 with renewed interest starting from 2012. Importantly, it was found that the most cited articles focused on the economic potential of AM products in the home and specific industries. Also, there is an increasing focus on the business models that are necessary for the commercialisation of AM products. Generally, there is a shift in focus from the firm to the market. However, this is a niche area and requires more attention. Themes such as commercialization are just emerging, and researchers need to devote more time and effort to the consumer side of the commercialization of AM products.

Additive manufacturing (AM), also known as 3D printing, is considered a renaissance of the manufacturing industry. Its unique capability of manufacturing 3D objects with intricate geometrical configurations has been used to produce hospital equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE) in an attempt to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa. The technology has been used by different research units to produce ventilators, respirator face masks, oscillating respiratory devices, oxygen connectors, oxygen splitters, non-invasive ventilation helmets, reusable clinician PPE, visor frames for face shields, etc. Despite the efforts of the AM community in South Africa, COVID-19 infections have continued to increase in the country. It came to light that technological interventions (including AM) alone cannot prevent the spread of the virus without the corresponding adaptive behavioural changes, such as adhering to COVID-19 prevention protocols (washing of hands, social distancing, etc.). It could be postulated that the spread of COVID-19 can only be prevented by inter-marrying the technological interventions (AM) with adaptive behavioural changes.

Purpose: This paper examined supply chain disruptions in the manufacturing industry in South Africa and how additive manufacturing technology was used to help deal with disruptions encountered.Design/methodology/approach: The study adopted a qualitative research approach in order to meet the objectives of the study. A total of ten (10) managers of conventional manufacturing firms and ten (10) managers of 3D printing firms in Free State, South Africa participated in the study through the use of a purposive sampling technique. Interview guides were used in the collection of data. Data transcriptions and thematic analysis were used to analyze data gathered from the interviews.Findings: The results of the study showed that 3D printing contributed positively in dealing with manufacturing disruptions that were encountered by manufacturing firms in Free State, South Africa through the production of components and spare parts that were broken down in manufacturing machinery/plants. From the study, the researchers recommend that 3D printing technology should be adopted by manufacturing firms because of its practicality in providing manufacturing support and production continuity even in supply chain disruptive experiences caused by pandemics such as Covid-19. Originality/value: The study proves that due to the versatility of the 3D printing technology it could be used to minimize the effect of supply chain disruption during cries such as the Covid-19 pandemic. One of the unique contributions of the current study is the realization that additive manufacturing was not of much relevance to the generic supply chain challenges encountered in supply chain activiteis, but rather very relevant in helping to prevent disruptions of the manufacturing process by improvising spare parts at the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess both the direct effect of supply chain integration on firm's operational performance and the mediating effect of external integration (customer integration and supplier integration) on the relationship between internal integration and operational performance among manufacturing firms. Design/methodology/approach: Quantitative survey research design was adopted. A total of thirty (30) manufacturing firms were sampled using cluster sampling. The data was collected using questionnaires from 317 employees in the procurement, account and administration units of the 30 manufacturing firms. Structural Equation Modeling was used to analyze the direct and mediation relationships. Findings: The results showed that the relationship between internal integration and operational performance was significantly mediated by external integration. It was established that operational performance could only be achieved when manufacturing firms' managers pay critical attention to internal and external integration. A Significant positive relationship also exists between supplier integration and operational performance as well as customer integration and operational performance. Originality/value: The unique contribution of the current study is the assessment of the mediating effect of external integration constructs (customer integration and supplier integration) as the mediating variable on internal integration and operational performance.

To be competitive in the distance education service delivery market, the need for a strategic approach by managers of these institutions to manage the increased competition cannot be compromised. Despite the available past and current studies on market orientation, the impact of market orientation on firms in the context of distance education is yet to be explored. Additionally, given the COVID crisis, the increasing reliance on distance education has resulted in a dynamic and turbulent environment in which market orientation assumes even greater importance. This study seeks to examine the mediating role of employee engagement in the link between market orientation and sustainable competitive advantage. Using the multistage sampling technique, 375 respondents were selected, consisting of key management and staff of a certain university’s distance education programme. Analytically, partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was used to address the various hypotheses of the study. Both customer and competitor orientations were found to have a significant positive effect on the university’s sustainable competitive advantage. The study’s outcomes will help shape policy and practise in distance education.