What limits the greater adoption of 3D printing in Canada? Identifying the Barriers to the Adoption of 3D printing in Canada

Abstract

Despite significant advances in materials, equipment, and applications, the adoption of 3D printing in Canadian manufacturing remains limited, with most firms restricting its use to prototyping rather than full-scale production. This thesis investigates why this gap persists by examining the economic, technical, organizational, and cultural factors shaping adoption decisions. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with industry stakeholders across manufacturing firms, suppliers, and supporting organizations, the study combines empirical insights with established technology adoption theories, including the Technology Acceptance Model, Diffusion of Innovation, and the Product Adoption Process.

The findings show that slow adoption is not driven by technical limitations alone. Instead, adoption is influenced by interconnected perceptions of risk, cost, capability, and organizational readiness, reinforced by conservative decision-making cultures, limited internal expertise, and uncertainty around qualification and certification. Customer expectations related to lead time, customization, and reliability further shape adoption behavior, either accelerating experimentation or reinforcing risk aversion. Regional infrastructure differences and ecosystem maturity also affect firms’ ability to progress beyond trial use.

Based on these findings, the thesis proposes a synthesized adoption framework that captures adoption as an iterative, feedback-driven process rather than a linear sequence. The framework integrates individual perceptions, organizational conditions, and external pressures to better reflect real-world adoption dynamics. This research contributes a practical and theoretically grounded lens for understanding 3D printing adoption in Canada and provides a foundation for future research, policy development, and industry strategies aimed at supporting broader and more sustained adoption.