Industry 4.0 and 3D print: a new heuristic approach for decoupling point in future supply chain management

. Background: The paper is devoted to the analysis of the trends and roles of decoupling point in the revolution of new technologies and Industry 4.0. Ever-growing demands and market requirements pressure to optimize the operations and be agile in every area of action. The crucial thing is to create a stable supply chain considering both the cost perspective and customer orientation. Fluctuations, congestion, and unexpected events may have a critical impact on operations and strategy, causing shortages and reducing efficiency. The objective of proper supply chain management is to optimize stocks and use technology to build synergy, which is a key point to increasing competitiveness throughout the entire stream and meeting customer demands. In our research, we offer a perspective on the growing field of 3D printing that may open a way to redefine a decoupling point and create more efficient networks. Methods: This paper uses an analysis of literature related to the decoupling point, presenting the ground rules and their importance in supply chain management. A comparison of theory, current state, and trends is intended to heuristically identify bottlenecks and risks as a case study for continuous improvements in global logistics. Presented data aim to define a way how the supply chain can evolve and use 3D print to create a new perspective on the decoupling point. Results: This study provides an overview of the trends in supply chain management and presents figures on the most common structures of current networks. Analysis of theory and technology development presents the possible changes in the definition of the decoupling point. Conclusions: Surging market requirements and the necessity of cost competitiveness make supply chains more difficult to manage. Unexpected fluctuations, force majeure events, and limited infrastructure capacity are adventurous for ensuring continuous operations. The research provides the insight into the development of logistics to reduce uncertainty and may define a starting point for further analysis of advanced supply chain management based on new technologies.