**6. Discussion**

In this chapter, we examine how two Swedish companies collaborated with university researchers in the early stages of the companies' experiments with transitioning from traditional manufacturing to digital manufacturing. We described the companies' interest in, and expectations of, the new technologies. We described the various pre-development, development, and post-development activities as the co-creation team produced, tested, and evaluated prototypes for products manufactured using 3D printing technologies. We concluded with the companies' assessments of the future benefits the transition might provide.

Our results provide evidence that the transition to digital manufacturing from traditional manufacturing relates more to iterative stage-based product development models [20] than to integrated product development models [21]. The technological issues such as quality standard for digitally manufactured components and products must be resolved before business issues (e.g., cost and risk) are addressed. The transition should be understood as a trial-and-error process in which knowledge and skills in AM develop from experience and from "out-of-the-box-thinking." For example, when sales and marketing personnel were invited to workshop presentations, creative and unusual ideas emerged.

The case studies teach us that digital manufacturing requires the same strategic planning and committed execution that traditional manufacturing does. However, digital manufacturing benefits more from cross-functional co-creation in business model innovation. Manufacturers (and other companies) that are sufficiently flexible to adapt or restructure their business models in new business environments are well positioned to manage the dramatic, abrupt, and rapid changes inevitable in today's high-tech revolution. Academics can provide the expertise needed for product and process developments. Company leaders can provide revenue, cost, and risk assessments. Together, the two groups can build the co-creation teams capable of managing these changes.
