The fourth industrial revolution has resulted in technology advancements in the manufacturing industry. However, the innovation potential embedded in these technologies should be unlocked by a viable application, i.e., the business model (BM). The BM as a holistic concept featuring different interacting elements is thus emerging as a promising vehicle for innovation. Current BM research describes the entire domain but lacks depth in the characterization of its individual components. This paper investigates the available manufacturing literature through the lens of the BM concept performing a scientometric analysis. The results are presented in a relational framework that provides an in-depth characterization of the manufacturing element of the BM and highlights identified connections that link the BM components. This is the basis for tools that will support firms in developing manufacturing portfolios aligned with their strategic goals.

Production development has for decades concentrated on incremental improvements by exploiting existing manufacturing knowledge to improve existing production systems or adapt them for new product developments. Building up an “ambidextrous innovation” ability, and more specifically in increasing focus on explorative production innovation, is important to balance production development efforts and obtain sustainable development of production. This paper aims to provide a conceptual framework for “ambidextrous production innovation” that conceptualizes and highlights phenomenon characteristics from exploitative and explorative perspectives. The conceptual framework describes “production innovation” as the process of either increasing or developing a new production capability, enabling opportunities for new product designs. This process can be either “product-driven” or “production-driven” depending on the primary objective of the development.