Quality Oriented Insights from Large-scale Bibliometric Analysis of Industrial 3D Printing: The S3DEF Framework

Purpose- Industrial 3D printing has evolved from prototyping to a key enabler of sustainable, decentralized manufacturing. This study analyses 16,889 Scopus-indexed publications (1993–2024) using large-scale bibliometrics to map global research trends and policy linkages, proposing the Sustainable 3D Design Ecosystem Framework (S3DEF) to guide industrial-scale adoption. Design/methodology/approach- A quantitative bibliometric analysis was conducted using 16,889 Scopus-indexed publications published between 1993 and 2024, following the PRISMA review methodology. The analysis examines publication growth, leading authors, sources, affiliations, and international collaboration networks. Keyword co-occurrence and thematic evolution analyses were performed using VOSviewer and Biblioshiny to reveal conceptual structures and research trajectories. Findings- The results demonstrate a rapid expansion and diversification of industrial 3D printing research, highlighting strong links between technological innovation, market growth forecasts (2020–2026), and recent scholarly output. Emerging themes reflect increasing attention to sustainability, advanced materials, and industrial scalability. Originality/value- This study contributes a data driven visualization of the industrial 3D printing landscape at a critical transitional phase, also emphasis on Indian context. It identifies the research gaps and aligns market forecasts (2020-2026) with scholarly work.