Digitalizing the maritime industry: A case study of technology acquisition and enabling advanced manufacturing technology

The need to reduce time-to-market and reduce cost-of-non-quality drives organizations operating within the advanced manufacturing industry to explore, and source technology externally. This paper reports on a case study of enabling technology and strategies for technology acquisition. The data is collected through in-depth structured interviews with five global technology experts. The interview guide is developed based on data collected in the Norwegian maritime industry, which deliver vessels to global markets and a high-level adopter of advanced manufacturing technology. The analyzis was done in Nvivo. Results relates to three modes of technology acquisition, namely alliances & licensing, monitor, acquire&merger, and coopetition.