An analysis of drivers, barriers and readiness factors of EU companies for adopting advanced manufacturing products and technologies
date: 18/01/2017
Companies adopt AMT to reduce production costs, improve the quality of their products and services, improve their employees’ productivity and reduce production lead time.
But despite the benefits AMT offer, the majority of manufacturing firms in the EU are not yet using these technologies, although there are notable differences across sectors and countries, and depending on the size of the company.
This study clarifies what the key obstacles to investment in AMT are, e.g. finance, the availability of skills, business and technology risks.
To overcome these obstacles, the study recommends various actions at regional, national and European levels, and at the level of clusters, to pursue 4 main objectives:
- Strengthen capacities of small and medium-sized companies regarding skills, local ecosystems and access to finance
- Promote the uptake of high-end AMT through joint pilot plants and demonstrators, a better exploitation of the Framework Research Programme, and standardisation
- Support new service-based business models for the diffusion of AMT
- Improve the alignment of European, national and regional policies
This study offers interesting insights to policy-makers in industry matters and business support providers.
Study and accompanying background work
- Study: An analysis of drivers, barriers and readiness factors of EU companies for adopting advanced manufacturing products and technologies
- Deliverable 1: Quantitative analysis of how EU manufacturing companies currently use advanced manufacturing and potential impact (PDF, 626 KB)
- Deliverable 2: Drivers and barriers of EU companies for adopting advanced manufacturing technologies (PDF, 2 MB)
- Deliverable 3: Drivers and barriers of EU companies for adopting advanced manufacturing technologies (PDF, 5 MB)
- Deliverable 4: Policy recommendations (PDF, 5 MB)