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On-Demand Manufacturing

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Introduction

This article will take an in-depth look at on-demand manufacturing.

The article will bring more detail on topics such as:

  • Principle of On-Demand Manufacturing
  • Traditional vs. On-Demand Manufacturing And Types of Manufacturing
  • On-Demand Manufacturing in Industries and Technologies
  • On-Demand Manufacturing Companies
  • Advantages and Disadvantages of On-Demand Manufacturing
  • And Much More…
On-Demand Manufacturing

Chapter 1: Principle of On-Demand Manufacturing

This chapter will discuss what on-demand manufacturing is and the driving factors of manufactured demand.

What is On-Demand Manufacturing?

To better understand on-demand production, it is important to understand basic traditional manufacturing. Traditional manufacturing is the practice of creating a certain quantity of goods each time and keeping a reserve on hand in case of sudden demand or shortages.

The manufactured demand definition, often known as on-demand manufacturing or manufacturing on demand (MOD), is a relatively recent idea in the manufacturing industry. In an on-demand manufacturing system, goods are only produced as needed and in the necessary amounts. This significantly shifts how engineers and buyers work with suppliers, particularly regarding items specifically made for them.

The emergence of cloud-based platforms and technologies has altered the landscape for the manufacturing industry and offers the potential to do away with quote delays, boost supplier management productivity, and enhance order visibility throughout the supply chain – all managed in a convenient online platform accessible from anywhere.

Manufacturing On Demand

On-demand manufacturing generally eliminates the need to retain expensive inventory and provides more options to manufacture on demand unique, specialized items because of its increased flexibility and capacity to produce one-off orders.

The Toyota Production System (TPS), often known as just-in-time (JIT) manufacturing, is a strategy that primarily aims to shorten the reaction times of suppliers and consumers as well as the cycle times of various production system operations. By just receiving products as required, or JIT, a typical inventory management strategy and kind of lean methodology, efficiency, costs, and waste are all reduced.

JIT is thought to be a more economical way to keep stock levels constant. Its goal is to reduce the quantity of goods you have on hand at any one moment without sacrificing production rates. And this has a lot of benefits, such requiring less space and allowing for quicker stock turnover, which reduces the amount of warehouse and storage space required for the storage of goods. Less expenditure can come from lower stock levels.

Thus, on-demand manufacturing uses concepts of JIT manufacturing but only producing goods as needed and in the necessary amounts with its supply chain facilitated over cloud-based platforms and technologies. It can be seen as cloud-based facilitated JIT custom manufacturing.

How Big is the On-Demand Marketplace?

Digital Manufacturing Market Size is projected to reach USD 1,370 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 16.5%: Straits Research The global digital manufacturing market size was valued at USD 320 billion in 2021. It is expected to reach USD 1,370 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 16.5% during the forecast period (2022–2030). North America holds the highest market share and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 15.8% during the forecast period.

Source: Straits Research

What is Off-shore Manufacturing?

Offshore manufacturing is the relocation of product assembly or production to another nation. Because labor expenses in another nation are so low, businesses frequently do this. Because raw materials are less expensive in another nation, offshore production is another possibility. It explicitly alludes to outsourcing manufacturing in order to sell the products back home.

Moving any corporate process overseas is referred to as "offshoring," which includes offshore manufacturing. The majority of the time, businesses migrate a business process, such manufacturing or product assembly. Businesses could also relocate auxiliary functions like accounting elsewhere. Globalization is a process that involves shifting production and other business operations elsewhere.

Driving Forces of On-Demand Manufacturing

The driving forces/factors of on-demand manufacturing include:

  • The rapid adoption of the on-demand manufacturing method is seen in additive manufacturing technologies like 3D printing. 3D printing, a digital process of producing objects, can easily integrate into a digital environment and quickly deliver goods to clients. The printer's processing unit must receive a CAD model before transforming the image into a three-dimensional object. The overall cost of manufacturing 3D printed objects has decreased dramatically as the technology has expanded. As a result, on-demand manufacturing and 3D printing are complementary processes.
3D Printed Objects

  • On-demand manufacturing is carried out with the assistance of cutting-edge software. Predictive analysis is frequently performed to provide customers with realistic estimations. Consequently, the lead time at the beginning of the order placement process is shortened. Customers no longer need to "complete the form" to access the quotation. On-demand manufacturing is a practical option because of the digitalization of the entire process, from quote to manufacturing to delivery.
  • On-demand manufacturing involves the engineer implementing the customer’s needs directly, without any middleman. Hence, there are fewer labor expenses for the company. Although its significance is directly correlated with the labor intensity of the industry in question, labor costs can be a significant factor in the competitiveness of the manufacturing industry. Due to extensive automation and lean manufacturing techniques, many high-tech businesses are not particularly labor-intensive throughout the production stage. This illustrates the trade-off between capital and labor intensity. These businesses rely on labor for design and innovation because sophisticated manufacturing businesses typically invest much in R&D. Consumer electronics illustrates how comparative advantages are reflected in the research and production site. Design and research are often located in regions with cheap labor costs; assembly that requires a lot of manual work is often found there as well.
Cloud Manufacturing

Material Management Software (MMS)

The "MMS" or material management system is a comprehensive method for managing daily supply chain activities. MMS covers the whole material life cycle, from first receipt (check-in) through disposal, and tracks every item down to individual units wherever it is in the facility.

The system keeps track of all the products in locations where typical ERP/Stock systems can't. Companies are under pressure to boost output while cutting expenses and to accomplish more with less money. To maintain and grow operations while exercising cost management, optimizing the acquisition, storage, and use of all commodities has become essential. Users can accomplish these goals with high efficiency & great simplicity using MMS. Some of its benefits include:

  • Reduce costs through reducing excess and pointless purchases, surplus materials, rework, and quality problems, and by monitoring real-time production conditions.
  • Boost productivity through making better use of production resources, efficiently coordinating production scheduling, balancing production line planning, and introducing lean production.
  • Increasing client satisfaction through timely deliveries, high-quality products, affordable prices, and the provision of accurate and thorough progress inquiries.
  • Create efficient operations that use precise, paperless data updates to track the status of production and operations in real time.

The development of technologies like 3D printing has made it feasible to produce materials in increasingly smaller quantities at a lower cost. The advantage being that it has also become viable to run businesses on much lower minimum order quantities which traditional manufacturing methods used to view as costly. Large minimum order quantities appear to be a thing of the past. It's also critical to be aware that the era of lead times is ending. On-demand manufacturing is effective when the vendor and customer systems are connected. Only when orders can be placed quickly does the system function.

As a result, both big and small business manufacturers are currently present in the on-demand manufacturing sector. However, some are in the on-demand manufacturers only as brokers, others as manufacturers and others as both. Now that they compete, the smaller businesses risk being quickly suffocated by the larger ones because of their larger networks, superior technology, and increased financial capability and size. Larger organizations also have better quality control, relationships, and broker liability.

Chapter 2: Traditional vs. On-Demand Manufacturing And Types of Manufacturing

This chapter will first compare and contrast traditional and on-demand manufacturing before discussing the types of manufacturing in depth.

Traditional vs. On-Demand Manufacturing

For traditional manufacturing methods to be profitable, orders must be placed in large minimum quantities; as production volume rises, the cost per part falls. To store all of the product until it is ready to ship, this frequently also necessitates a sizable physical footprint. Because fixed expenses are distributed over a large volume of production output, economies of scale can be generated, which lowers unit costs. The drawback of this strategy is that managing and storing the physical inventory adds costs to the operation.

A bad estimate of the required manufacturing quantity can lead to the manufacture of surplus inventory that goes unsold and may need to be disposed of or sold off at a discount to free up valuable warehouse space. This is particularly relevant to industries where the product has a short shelf life or will soon become obsolete.

This combination also can reduce profit margins, especially when considering additional costs related to maintaining a properly equipped warehouse and disposing of excess materials and products if volume projections are too high. As an alternative, on-demand manufacturing uses the adaptability of cloud-based technology and online services to offer specialized manufacturing solutions to give exactly what the customer needs when they need it.

Traditional Manufacturing Method

Customers can submit their own design specifications and communicate in real time on demand manufacturers who can walk them through the full production process thanks to self-service software. The strategy reduces losses and many of the communication gaps brought on by the conventional business model. It also provides improved visibility into project management.

On-demand production techniques may eventually be more flexible and simple for small batches of parts, making them a more effective approach to keeping inventory levels in check. When parts are finished, they are transported straight to the client, reducing the need to retain extra stock for a later time. This reduces warehouse stockpiling without limiting the amount of production volume. As a result, on demand manufacturers have additional opportunities to produce niche and specialized items.

Limitations/Challenges of Traditional Manufacturing

The most common challenges of traidional manufacturing include:

  • More time spent producing (i.e. production time): The manufacturing prerequisites are traditional manufacturing's main problem. One common traditional manufacturing method, injection molding, calls for the use of a mold into which material is injected to create the finished product. The lengthier lead time in production operations is a result of the costly and time-consuming nature of producing the mold. However, producing complex parts with CNC machining would take a long time because it will take time to create the proper tooling for intricate designs. Order fulfillment may take longer if the production lines are offshore.
  • Customization restrictions: Personalization is essential right nowadays. Customers today are demanding more items that are tailored to their specific demands. The rigidity of traditional manufacturing, however, makes it difficult to accept specific order descriptions. While customization is an option if your company uses CNC Machining, for instance, the procedure can entail several machines. Setting up and programming the machines to produce the correct form will take some time. This not only results in higher expenses, but it may also make it difficult for your company to achieve production schedules.
  • Lack of design adaptability: With conventional manufacturing techniques like CNC machining, plastic forming, and plastic joining, highly complicated geometries are often impossible or laborious to make. When traditional techniques cannot handle the required geometric components, 3D printing will be an excellent option. This is especially true when using cutting-edge 3D printing techniques like Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), a powder-based method that enables the creation of complex shapes since the powder functions as its own support.

Types of Manufacturing

The different types of manufacturing include:

Lean Manufacturing

A concept known as "lean manufacturing" aims to increase productivity while eliminating waste in industrial systems. Lean manufacturing has many advantages, including shorter lead times, lower operational expenses, and better product quality. Organizations from various industries can enable the practice of lean manufacturing, commonly referred to as lean production or lean.

Lean Manufacturing

Toyota was the leading corporation for lean techniques. The strategy is still employed by numerous other businesses and is based on the Toyota Production System. A lean production system might be advantageous for businesses that use enterprise resource planning (ERP).

Similarly, on-demand manufacturing employs lean because it minimizes loss by producing only what is ready to be purchased. Principles of lean manufacturing include:

  • Determining value from the viewpoint of the customer. Although it is created by the producer, value is determined by the client. Businesses must comprehend the value customers place on their goods and services to calculate how much the client is willing to pay. To provide the best price to the client while making the most profit for the business, the organization must work to minimize waste and expense from its business processes.
  • Kaizen, or continuous process improvement, is the pursuit of excellence. The foundation of lean manufacturing is the idea of continuous improvement, which calls for identifying and removing waste across the value stream as well as addressing the underlying causes of quality problems.
  • Make a flow. Remove functional obstacles and find strategies to shorten lead times. This helps to guarantee that everything goes smoothly from the moment an order is accepted until it is delivered. The removal of waste depends on flow. Lean manufacturing is based on avoiding production process pauses and enabling a synchronized and integrated set of processes where activities flow continuously.
  • Value stream mapping. This approach entails keeping track of and examining the information or materials used to generate a particular good or service with the aim of spotting waste and suggesting ways to enhance it. Value stream mapping covers the product’s complete lifecycle, from raw materials to disposal. Businesses must check for waste at every stage of the cycle. Anything that does not improve the situation must be removed. As part of this effort, supply chain alignment is advised by lean thinking.
7 Wastes of Lean Manufacturing

  • Create a mechanism of pulling. This implies that users only begin new projects when they need them. Instead of using a push system, lean manufacturing employs a pull system. When using a push system, inventory requirements are projected in advance, and the product is produced to meet those demands. Forecasts, however, are frequently wrong, leading to swings between having too much and not enough inventory, schedule disruptions and subpar customer service. Lean manufacturing is based on a pull system, unlike MRP, where nothing is manufactured or purchased prior to demand. Pull depends on communication and flexibility.

Job Shop Manufacturing

Instead of an assembly line, the job shop manufacturing process uses production spaces like workstations and workshops. Each worker may improve the product as it passes through their station, moves to another, and after it is finished. Due to its tendency to be slower and produce low volumes of highly specialized products, this manufacturing method is perfect for bespoke manufacturing. It is worth noting that manufacturing in job shops is not just for low-tech products. In the aerospace and defense industries, this method is also used in the advanced manufacture on demand fighter jets and rockets. These products are made by skilled workers who use cutting-edge manufacturing processes and emphasize quality control to assure a high-quality build.

Job Shop Management

Discrete Manufacturing

Repetitive manufacturing's relative is discrete manufacturing. Although it also uses production lines, the finished products produced by this method differ greatly. The assembly line layout must frequently be adjusted when transitioning between several product models. This is referred to as a changeover in manufacturing facilities. It comes with setup costs in the form of time, labor, and resources. For instance buyers expect mass customization in the computer sector in addition to the company's ongoing quick technological advancement. The assembly line will need to be changed in order to create and assemble orders for the newest electronic components used to create newer laptops and computers.

Discrete Manufacturing

Repetitive Manufacturing

The repetitive manufacturing method is used in basic manufacturing, which produces identical items on an assembly line. These quick manufacturing processes will result in extremely similar products. Because there is a consistent and predictable demand for the finished product from consumers, these mass production industries are perfect for repetitive manufacturing. As a single product is produced over time, the assembly line will remain mostly unchanged. Master plans are developed using a time- and resource-based approach. Repetitive manufacturing is frequently used for make-to-stock production or demand production in a sales order-focused industry like the automotive. In these kinds of facilities, throughput is increased while manufacturing costs are reduced by using robots and other automated high-volume manufacturing equipment.

Chapter 3: On-Demand Manufacturing in Industries and Technologies

This chapter will discuss the industries that use on-demand manufacturing. It will also discuss the technologies used in manufacturing on demand.

Industries Using On-Demand Manufacturing

The industries include:

Automotive Industry

One of the mainstays of the automotive on-demand manufacturing sector is 3D printing. But in addition, on-demand manufacturing frequently uses CNC processing, vacuum casting, and injection molding. For tasks requiring a few parts, CNC and 3D printing are appropriate. When engineers create and validate the original product concept, they frequently employ them as processing methods. It can be advisable to use vacuum casting or rapid tooling to create the parts when there are hundreds or more required. These methods are frequently used in trial production before official manufacturing.

Car Production Line

Aerospace Industry

Aerospace industries have benefited from 3D printing due to cost savings, quick manufacturing, and inventive design. The industry has some of the strictest industry performance criteria and the requirement to make lightweight, complicated parts. An experienced workforce, high-performance materials designed for aerospace applications, and AS9100 certified quality procedures ensure safe and high-quality parts ready for takeoff. The aerospace industry frequently employs a wide range of technologies, such as Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), Laser Sintering (LS), and Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS).

Aerospace Parts

Energy Industry

With the help of more effective, lightweight, on-demand components and ecologically acceptable materials, the energy sector is starting to make significant strides with additive manufacturing, responding to various needs and field operations. Competitive energy firms are using services like CNC machining, stereolithography (SL), laser sintering (LS), and direct metal laser sintering (DMLS).

Wind Generator

Technologies Used in On-Demand Manufacturing

The various technologies used in on-demand manufacturing include:

3D Printing

A digital file made from CAD software is used to create three-dimensional solid things via additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing. In an additive process, the object is made through the continuous addition of filament layers until the product is made. These 3D object levels can be considered a finely sliced cross-section of the object.

Subtractive manufacturing involves hollowing out a piece of metal or plastic using a milling machine. Subtractive manufacturing is the reverse of 3D printing. With 3D printing, users can create intricate shapes with less material than with conventional production techniques. The three main categories of 3D printing techniques are stereolithography, melting, and sintering.

Sintering is a technique for producing high-resolution objects by heating the material, but not to the point of melting. While thermoplastic powders are used for selective laser sintering, metal powder is utilized for direct metal laser sintering.

Stereolithography uses photopolymerization to make parts. Using the appropriate light source, this method selectively interacts with the material to cure and solidify a cross-section of the product in small layers.

3D Printing

Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)

In the additive manufacturing (AM) process known as fused deposition modeling (FDM), sometimes known as material extrusion, polymers are utilized as the raw material (filament). The filament is typically heated until it is molten, at which point it is extruded through the machine or 3D printer’s nozzle.

To deposit the extruded polymer on the build plate per the G-code instructions, the nozzle head has three degrees of freedom (DoF). The machine's extruder and nozzle are continually fed filament by two rollers that rotate in opposing directions. Layer by layer, the material is added to the build plate until the desired product shape and dimensions are obtained. When layering, the printer nozzle moves back and forth in accordance with the spatial coordinates of the original CAD model in the G-code files until the component is produced in the required size and shape.

Multiple extrusion nozzles can be utilized in some FDM systems (3D printers) to deposit the polymer constituents, particularly when components with compositional gradients are required. Different 3D printers are created for various filament materials because, typically, the resolution and efficacy of the extrusion greatly depend on the thermoplastic filament's qualities. Most cheap FDM 3D printers can only work with one kind of thermoplastic, and the most popular substance is polylactic acid (PLA).

Fused Deposition Modeling

CNC Machining

In the process of Computerized Numerical Control (CNC), the production equipment is moved by pre-programmed software and code. Every day, CNC machinists use a combination of mathematical concepts, technical drawings, mechanical design, and computer programming to create a range of metal and plastic parts. For example, a sheet of metal can be transformed into a crucial vehicle or airplane part by CNC operators.

When a CNC system is turned on, the intended cuts are programmed into the software and sent to the appropriate tools and machinery, which do the prescribed dimensional jobs in a manner similar to a robot. Even if there is a chance of errors when a CNC machine is instructed to cut in more than one direction at once, the code generator within the numerical system in CNC programming frequently treats mechanisms as if they are faultless.

The component program specifies where a tool should be placed using a numerical control system. Programs are entered onto numerical control machines using punch cards. Programmers write and edit the actual code. As a result, CNC systems have far greater processing capacity.

CNC Machining

Selective Laser Sintering

A powerful laser is used in the additive manufacturing process known as selective laser sintering to fuse tiny particles of polymer powder into a solid object based on a three-dimensional model. For many years, engineers and on demand manufacturers have favored SLS 3D printing. Rapid prototyping, small-batch, bridge, and bespoke production are just a few of the applications for which the technology is perfect, thanks to its low cost per part, high productivity, and well-established materials. More organizations can now adopt SLS printing, which was previously only available to a select few high-tech industries, thanks to recent advancements in equipment, materials, and software.

Selective Laser Sintering

Printing: Inside the build chamber, a platform is covered with a thin coating of powder. The laser can more easily raise the temperature of particular sections of the powder bed as it traces the model to solidify a part because the printer preheats the powder to a temperature slightly below the melting point of the raw material. The powder is heated to just below or exactly at the melting point of the material as the laser scans a cross-section of the 3D model. In order to make a single, solid portion, the particles are mechanically fused together. The unfused powder acts as the part's support during printing and does away with the requirement for specific support structures. The platform is then lowered into the build chamber by one layer, usually between 50 and 200 microns, and the procedure is repeated until all of the pieces are produced.

Cooling: To maintain ideal mechanical qualities and prevent warping in pieces, the build chamber needs to be gradually cooled down after printing, first inside the print enclosure and then outside.

Post-processing: The completed components must be removed from the build chamber, sorted, and wiped free of powder residue. The powder can be reused, and media blasting or tumbling can be used for additional post-processing on the printed pieces.

Direct Metal Laser Sintering

A type of metal additive manufacturing, or 3D printing, is known as direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) or selective laser sintering (SLS). It is utilized for both bulk production of metal parts and quick prototyping. Although the process is extremely similar to selective laser melting (SLM), also known as direct metal laser melting (DMLM), the powder is merely sintered, not melted, together at the molecular level. Compared to melting, this produces less porous pieces.

Direct Metal Laser Sintering

The benefit of this is that alloys containing components with various melting points are simple to print from. Even materials made of metal and plastic can be combined. The metal powder is heated by SLM until it fully transforms into a liquid. Less energy is required since DMLS does not melt the metal powder. Particles are sufficiently heated during sintering for their surfaces to fuse together.

Injection Molding

Prototyping molds for diverse purposes like pilot runs, bridge tooling, and the production of low-volume products are only a few industrial uses for prototype molds. The best technique for creating a prototype mold is injection molding. It works well with many different color and material formulas. The quick turn-around time, excellent reproducibility, and material variety of such a prototype mold are its key benefits. Most of the machinery used to produce these moldings is economical.

Molds made of steel, ceramic, or aluminum are used during the injection molding process to create shapes. Because there are no heating or cooling lines involved, the duration between cycles is typically rather long. Monitoring of the fill pressure and component quality is aided by the lengthy period. Pellets of resin are first loaded into the barrel to begin the process. Then they'll be melted, compressed, and injected and then the resin pellets are injected into the mold's runners. Through the gates, heated resin will be poured into the mold chamber, where the part is formed. The mold for the prototype slides into a feeding pin. The molded parts are sent and delivered to the clients soon after the run is finished.

Plastic Forming or Plastic Joining

Plastics can be formed using a variety of techniques, including vacuum forming, thermoforming, and pressure forming. There are differences between each type, but they all involve heating a plastic sheet and draping it over a mold while shaping the sheet with male plugs and air pressure. Almost all thermoplastics are available as sheets that can be utilized in the forming process. However, because forming is a single-sided operation, the tool surface can only exert control over one side of the plastic sheet. In general, the cost of tooling for forming procedures is less than that of injection molding, particularly for larger products of simpler design.

Chapter 4: On-Demand Manufacturing Industry Players

On-demand manufacturing has a considerable benefit for smaller manufacturers. However, as far as larger manufacturers are concerned, the current structure is most beneficial for them.

The development of technologies like 3D printing has made it feasible to produce materials in increasingly smaller quantities at a lower cost. Large minimum order quantities appear to be a thing of the past. It's also critical to be aware that the era of lead times is ending. On-demand manufacturing is effective when the vendor and customer systems are connected. Only when orders can be placed quickly does the system function.

As a result, both big and small businesses are currently present in the on-demand manufacturing sector. Now that they compete, the smaller businesses risk being quickly suffocated by the larger ones because of their larger networks, superior technology, and increased financial capability and size. Larger organizations also have better quality control, relationships, and broker liability.

Some of the industry players in on-demand manufacturing include:

Fast Radius

Fast Radius is on a quest to improve logistics and production. Fast Radius have integrated a Cloud Manufacturing Platform with their experienced workforce to make the entire process simpler and smarter. In addition, Fast Radius are making their own new manufacturing technologies available so clients can make new things possible for the world.

Their factories offer production quality and speed on demand. To assist customers in producing better components faster, Fast Radius has an established infrastructure. Customers always have access to the resources, experience, and manufacturing partners they require to successfully complete their tasks, thanks to US production centers, microfactories, and partners worldwide.

Fictiv

Fictiv provides clients with access to a wide variety of capabilities through a single, user-friendly platform to free up more time for design innovation and spend less time on part procurement.

Fictive is capable of:

  • CNC Machining: Tight tolerances and quick turnaround times for finishing as fast as two days.
  • Injection Molding: Steel tooling for production, delivered in as little as two weeks.
  • 3D Printing: Technologies including FDM, SLS, SLA, PolyJet, and MJF.
  • Urethane Casting: Quality parts production without the expense of tooling.

Hubs (A Protolabs Company)

Hubs have a huge range of production capabilities and support both one-off prototyping and low-volume production, thanks to the hundreds of manufacturers in their network. They take pride in being the go-to supplier for intricately shaped parts or highly aesthetic components.

Hubs works closely with suppliers who have a track record of producing high-quality products thanks to the efforts of their local and international procurement teams. Order parts are immediately put into production at the most competitive pricing because their global network offers practically infinite capacity.

All components are thoroughly tested twice after production: Once at their manufacturing partners' facilities and once again at the Hubs quality control center in either Chicago or Amsterdam. Parts are passed through customs and dispatched from their facility to their destination within a 24-hour period. All 3D printed components are made locally, and only the manufacturing partner performs inspections. These transport directly to their target.

JawsTec

JawsTec is a firm that offers services for metal fabrication, CNC machining, and additive and subtractive manufacturing. JawsTec make quick prototyping accessible to inventors, engineers, and company owners while supplying huge corporations with parts through high-volume manufacturing. With partnerships with organizations like Tesla, Apple, BMW, Ford, Delta, and SpaceX, to mention a few, JawsTec has been able to make components for a variety of sectors.

After submitting their 3D model file, buyers may get real-time pricing from their rapid quotation engines. JawsTec take great pleasure in their rapid manufacturing, with most orders having turnaround periods of 4-5 days. We have some of the top industrial machinery in the business, able to create the highest quality components, thanks to their partnerships with HP, EOS, and HAAS.

Kickr Design

One of the Southeastern United States' most rapidly expanding product design, engineering, prototype, and manufacturing firms is Kickr Design. Kickr Design provides free consultations and a free project estimate so clients can discreetly discuss their project with a qualified lead engineer and create the best strategy for getting what they need.

Protolabs

Protolabs' goal is to enable businesses to commercialize novel ideas by providing the world's quickest and most complete digital manufacturing solution. Protolabs takes pride in being one of the fastest sources in the world for rapid prototyping and on-demand production parts. Protolabs can produce commercial-grade plastic, metal, and liquid silicone rubber parts in a matter of days, thanks to their automated quoting and manufacturing processes. A manufacturing partner emerges as a result, helping companies hasten time to market and intelligently control demand fluctuations over the full product life cycle.

Quickparts

Quickparts take pleasure in their capacity to satisfy their clients' manufacturing demands, regardless of the size or deadline of the project, as the creators of a comprehensive digital manufacturing platform that offers on-demand additive and traditional manufacturing services. And their commitment to innovative technology and fresh materials confirms their position as SLA and SLS pioneers. Quickparts deliver manufacturing services at the pace clients want and the quality clients demand, backed by their heritage and thorough understanding of the sector.

Rapid Direct

On-demand manufacturing is made simpler and faster via Rapid Direct. Rapid Direct provides on-demand, high-quality custom parts with expert prototyping and production capabilities. Online fast quotes, automated DFM analysis, and the delivery of high-quality parts all take place within seconds.

Rapid Direct can produce custom parts in huge volumes and on demand, and it can also produce parts with intricate geometrical patterns and demanding cosmetic specifications.

Choosing companies that not only have strong manufacturing skills but also quickly, effectively, and intelligently build complicated end-use parts is essential for maximizing the benefits of any on-demand manufacturing services. Rapid Direct meets these requirements.

Stratasys

Some of the biggest businesses in the world rely on Stratasys to help them stay one step ahead of their rivals. Global leaders in the automotive and aerospace industries, as well as cutting-edge medical startups and tech behemoths, can all operate more quickly, creatively, and affordably thanks to our tested technology. Stratasys offers decades of experience, consultancy, training, industry-leading printers and materials, end-to-end support, and workflow management.

Stratasys doesn't stop at the 3D printer itself because Stratasys offers end-to-end support. In addition, Stratasys offers a market-leading selection of materials, clever software integrations, and professional advice. Even items on demand can be printed for clients by their Stratasys Direct team.

Techpacker

Techpacker simplifies the process of creating samples enjoyable, simple, and inexpensive. How? by producing techpacks, a type of standard industrial document that firms utilize to grasp the precise specifications for a design. An online tool that enables budding fashion designers to quickly and accurately order samples from global factories With the aid of their technology, designers can quickly prepare their ideas or mock-ups for manufacture, collaborate with factories, and track progress.

Techpacker are not another factory-listing directory service but rather their goal is to provide the most cutting-edge collaboration tools possible, which can be easily used and connected with a variety of platforms. This enables designers to reliably rely on companies all across the world to produce high-quality samples of their innovative concepts.

WayKen

WayKen is a quick manufacturer and prototyping business based in Shenzhen, China. It specializes in rapid prototyping and low-volume production of plastic and metal components, offering a one-stop shop from prototype to production.

WayKen has consistently maintained a strong competitive advantage because of cutting-edge production technologies and a highly qualified staff. Their manufacturing services, which include CNC machining, 3D printing, vacuum casting, fast tooling, and injection molding, are tailored to client unique product design requirements.

Xometry

Users can instantly upload CAD models to Xometry Europe's Instant Quoting Engine to receive quotes and access a sizable global network of manufacturers. The largest custom manufacturing marketplace, Xometry, uses its own proprietary AI algorithms to match consumers with the best manufacturing demand solutions. From startups to Fortune 100 corporations, Xometry serves a diverse customer base by offering demand manufacturing and industrial supply materials.

With a global network of over 5,000 supplier manufacturing facilities, Xometry can provide a wide range of capabilities, including CNC machining, 3D printing, sheet metal fabrication, injection molding, die casting, stamping, extrusion, assembly, and urethane casting, all while maintaining consistently short lead times. BMW, Bosch, Dell Technologies, General Electric, and NASA are a few of Xometry's clients.

Xometry’s Acquisition of Thomasnet - The Fight for the Industrial Buyer

The $300 million purchase of Thomasnet would enable Xometry to expand both its buyer and seller bases. Xometry will expand the range of products it offers by including fintech and digital marketing items. This combines with the fact that it sells tools, which is unusual for a digital manufacturing marketplace, to make it a one-stop shop for products and services. Xometry is trying to become the Amazon of digital manufacturing. Additionally, Xometry provides raw materials and manufacturing equipment.

The ongoing relationship of industrial buyers seeking sellers is undergoing some radical changes and these effects have some serious long run implications for American manufacturing. Xometry is making a serious attempt to change the dynamics of this relationship.

It is critical to understand these two buying processes:

  • Thomasnet connects buyers with sellers.
  • Xometry controls & executes the transaction.

The issue of how much control buyers will give to a second party and lose personal relationships will define the next generation of industrial buying.

(resource:www.saveamericanmanufacturers.com)

Zetwerk – An Ode to emerging India

A global industrial network called Zetwerk seeks to maximize outsourcing from India

India is geared up to replace China in terms of economic development. India has taken a lot of initiatives like Make-in-India to augment the manufacturing sector in India. The production-linked incentive scheme is especially turning out to be a game-changer for the Indian manufacturing space. It is making sure that Indian products compete on equal footing with foreign products.

Zetwerk acquired Pinaka Aerospace Solutions for aerospace and defense manufacturing capabilities, bagged a majority stake in SharpTanks to increase Zetwerk's exposure to the oil and gas industry, and bought a 100% stake in the Wardha fabrication unit of Wheels India to tap into a $1.5-billion market comprising the manufacturing of critical fabricated parts for power, roads, and railways.

"Zetwerk and Pinaka have a history of working together. We are confident that our combined capabilities will help shape the aerospace and defense industry as we bring back demand for Indian manufacturing from global original equipment manufacturers (OEMs)," Zetwerk Manufacturing Businesses co-founder and CEO Amrit Acharya said.

"As we scale and expand further, we add more homegrown manufacturing companies into our portfolio."

Chapter 5: Advantages and Disadvantages of On-Demand Manufacturing

This chapter will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of on-demand manufacturing.

Advantages of On-Demand Manufacturing

  • The need to keep raw materials and the products they are used to make virtually disappears with on-demand manufacturing services. Brands can now directly meet consumer demand because orders are fulfilled when requested, as opposed to speculating on seasonal consumer demand and building inventory. The need to predict new product volumes or satisfy minimum order requirements is reduced to a minimum thanks to on-demand, which also enables businesses to avoid the expense of warehousing and divert staffing resources to other projects.
  • Brands that use traditional manufacturing must determine the demand for each product. This results in overproduction, particularly in the fashion sector, where fashions and trends can change quickly. Many products go to waste in landfills or are burned when they are not purchased. A loss of more than $100 billion per year can be attributed to the nearly 87 percent of wasted textile materials. On-demand manufacturing eliminates wasteful production since it enables businesses to generate only the products that customers order. In other words, cloud manufacturing businesses can establish a shorter, more effective supply chain.
  • Brands can outsource their supply chain management needs with demand manufacturing. This enables them to focus more on what they do best—designing, promoting, and selling—and less on logistics. Additionally, manufacutring on demand allows businesses of all sizes to quickly and affordably test out new concepts and designs. Due to the simplicity and effectiveness of production on-demand, small businesses and startups can enter the market quickly. On-demand manufacturing is a particularly effective strategy for scaling operations for companies in the garment and home goods categories, which have experienced tremendous growth over the past year.
  • The wants and personal preferences of end users differ greatly from their needs. Manufacturers can supply exactly what a customer wants in terms of numbers and specifications thanks to demand production. Contrarily, a customer's request for a personalized product is almost unattainable under the conventional manufacturing approach. This is because the hardware configuration in traditional production facilities is fixed, and making significant changes would be expensive. Additionally, employing a standard manufacturing setup to produce a small number of goods would be very inefficient financially. On the other hand, with demand manufacturing, a customer may quickly buy and receive even a single prototype, regardless of how complex it is, and have it manufactured.
  • Due to the high volume of products that are often produced, establishing a traditional manufacturing facility is quite expensive, with some machines costing millions of dollars. On the other hand, systems for manufacturing on demand can efficiently manage modest volumes that can be produced with far less expensive machinery. Small and medium-sized businesses can now establish small-scale manufacturing facilities.
  • The regular customer-manufacturer communication, quick turnaround times, adaptability, affordability, and operational transparency that are hallmarks of custom manufacturing have significantly increased the rate of technical innovation. Inventors and innovators can create items and have a single prototype made at an astonishingly quick pace and for a comparatively low price. The product can then be improved using the prototype, resulting in a swift time to market.
  • The number of fantastic items that hit the market every day has significantly risen because of CAD and on-demand production. Only huge firms could previously afford the costs associated with developing, testing, and manufacturing a new product.
  • Traditional manufacturers may not be able to give samples because their facilities are designed for large production, and prototypes developed by them can be very expensive. Using an on-demand manufacturer makes prototyping simple and adaptable, allowing businesses to swiftly iterate on concepts before going into production.
  • Instant quotation engines are used in demand manufacturing to estimate production costs. These fast quotes eliminate the back-and-forth involved in traditional production, which improves the client experience.

Disadvantages of On-Demand Manufacturing

  • Supply chain control - Since the platform handles the selection and management of the suppliers utilized for production, buyers and engineers employing on demand manufacturing services manufacturing give up control over the supply chain in exchange for quick turnaround and efficiency. Consider producing those parts internally or directly outsourcing the production to a supplier with whom a close, direct connection may be created and maintained if very tight supply chain control is necessary for the development of crucial parts.
  • Uniformity of quality standards - From one on-demand platform to the next, there can be differences in how well a network of suppliers they interact with has adopted a consistent set of quality procedures. While some platform providers make a conscious effort to prioritize quality and ensure consistency with their manufacturing partners, others more closely resemble a middleman, supporting the buy/sell marketplace but paying less attention to the specifics.
  • Production volume - Demand manufacturing works best for introducing new products (NPI), from early prototyping to EVT/DVT/PVT, into bridge production numbers, up to 1 or 2 million units. It might be advisable to look for a more conventional contract on demand manufacturer specializing in very high-volume production supply chains for sustained production in larger quantities.
  • Service accessibility - Depending on the production step involved, there may be differences in the breadth and depth of services accessible from on-demand platforms; thus, choosing a platform that can deliver the necessary capabilities is crucial.
  • Giving an on-demand manufacturer exclusive product information is part of working with them. A corporation may experience intellectual property theft or leakage due to insufficient security controls if the company doesn't enforce rules to protect that data. Businesses should be aware of the security steps on-demand manufacturing takes. Defined security rules should be in place to monitor who is participating in a project and what they do with any related information.
  • Businesses rely on suppliers to fulfill orders quickly with on demand production; thus, suppliers must be able to abruptly ramp up production. If not, businesses find that they are unable to meet consumer orders on time because the supplier is unable to do so.

Nevertheless, the advantages of manufactured demand far outweigh its disadvantages.

Conclusion

Manufacturing on Demand (MOD), also referred to as on-demand manufacturing, is a concept that has only recently gained traction in the manufacturing sector. Products are only manufactured as needed and in the required quantities in an on-demand manufacturing system. It results in a big change in how engineers and buyers interact with suppliers, especially when it comes to products that are specially made for them.

The manufacturing industry's landscape has changed with the rise of cloud-based platforms and technologies. These platforms and technologies have the potential to eliminate quote delays, increase supplier management productivity, and improve order visibility throughout the supply chain—all managed in a convenient online platform that is accessible from anywhere.

Because of its improved flexibility and ability to make one-off orders, on-demand manufacturing typically removes the need to keep expensive inventory. It offers more possibilities for creating specialized, one-of-a-kind things.

It is vital to understand the merits and demerits of on-demand manufacturing in relation to an industry’s characteristics and capabilities in order to be effective and efficient.

Table of Contents

Principle of On-Demand Manufacturing

Traditional vs. On-Demand Manufacturing And Types of Manufacturing

On-Demand Manufacturing in Industries and Technologies

On-Demand Manufacturing Industry Players

Advantages and Disadvantages of On-Demand Manufacturing

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