Mobile digital factories are production units equipped with direct digital manufacturing (DDM) technology that can be set-up at any location and moved to another place of demand after completing the production job. From a theoretical standpoint, this manufacturing approach combines the concepts of direct digital, on-site, and mobile manufacturing. While the operation of mobile digital factories is currently explored by companies in various industries, there is little theoretical understanding about how they deliver value in supply chains and what role DDM plays in that. Our qualitative case data from the construction industry—in which mobile factories fitted with different technologies are an established manufacturing concept—provide insights into the complex interrelations between a mobile digital factory’s value functionalities. 32 semi-structured interviews and secondary data reveal that logistics efficiency, responsiveness, geographical flexibility, and production time efficiency are the key value outcomes, and that DDM technologies are enabling their realization. Moreover, use cases emphasize that the project context influences the extent to which mobile digital factories are efficiently operated. Reflecting on the case study insights, we theorize that (i) supply chain orchestration enable the responsiveness and geographical flexibility and (ii) postponement and speculation is explanatory for logistics and production time efficiency. We conclude that mobile digital factories should be seen as a complement to traditional off-site supply chains that can balance flexibility and efficiency in a limited number of projects.
