Objectives: shortened sourcing in procurement and accelerated time-to-market
FACTUREE procurement study: 26% of companies see high effort in supplier coordination as an obstacle
Berlin, July 4, 2024 – 26 percent of companies complain about the high effort required to coordinate their suppliers when procuring components. They consequently desire less complexity, shorter sourcing processes, and risk minimization through supplier bundling or backup suppliers. This is the result of a representative market research study of 418 participants commissioned by FACTUREE (www.facturee.de).
Sourcing is becoming increasingly demanding for industrial buyers as the complexity and scope of procurement processes continue to rise. Supplier reduction, simple communication channels, and good advice are therefore highly valued by buyers and engineers. This is also emphasized by the study conducted by the market research firm Caspar-Feld on behalf of FACTUREE in May 2024. The study indicates that 26 percent of the 418 respondents criticize the high coordination effort due to too many suppliers. Additionally, 16 percent complain about a lack of personal contact and hard-to-reach contacts. About 28 percent are under significant cost pressure. The survey asked respondents to name the three biggest pain points when purchasing components.
Shortening sourcing processes through innovative manufacturing services
Bundling suppliers through innovative manufacturing services can eliminate these bottlenecks by significantly shortening sourcing processes. By consolidating manufacturers through a single provider, not only can costs be optimized, but communication can also be greatly simplified. With a provider like FACTUREE, customers who need a component receive everything from a single source: supplier search, technical consultation, manufacturing, post-processing, and surface finishing. This saves time and costs as all steps are coordinated through a single interface. A dedicated contact person is available for advice, just like with a local subcontractor – an aspect highly valued by many buyers and engineers, as the FACTUREE study shows.
“By collaborating with us, companies can quickly and efficiently access a wide range of manufacturing capacities without having to conduct time-consuming and often complex supplier negotiations. Our digital approach simplifies all processes, from inquiry to order to delivery. A key advantage is the complete processing, where all manufacturing steps – from initial production to post-processing to surface finishing – are handled by a single provider. This method avoids handovers between different service providers, thus simplifying coordination, reducing communication efforts, and facilitating quality assurance,” explains Niklas Oertel, Vice President of Growth at FACTUREE.
Staying operational and developing innovations more efficiently
Unlike traditional subcontractors, FACTUREE can easily balance demand fluctuations and supplier failures. With nearly unlimited capacities, delivery availability is guaranteed at all times – even in times of high demand and general crises. This risk minimization helps companies to strengthen their resilience. FACTUREE has an extensive network of over 2,000 manufacturers in almost all areas, including CNC machining, sheet metal processing, 3D printing, casting and forging processes, as well as surface technology and hardening processes. This ensures that the right solution is always available. For buyers and engineers, this represents significant relief in sourcing, allowing them to advance strategic projects and innovations more efficiently.
“An efficient system is characterized by lean and detailed procurement processes. Our procurement software identifies the optimal supplier for each requirement with the lowest complaint rate, ensures uniform quality standards, and minimizes delivery failures. This significantly accelerates time-to-market and ultimately increases the innovation power of companies. By partnering with FACTUREE, companies can make their development processes much more efficient while optimizing their costs,” says Niklas Oertel.
Digital procurement replaces lengthy supplier search and speeds up product development
Supplier bundling: With FACTUREE everything can now be manufactured in casting processes from a single source
Berlin, July 2, 2024 – An engineer is developing a new product and urgently needs a pre-series version for injection molded parts. However, the lengthy search for various suppliers for injection molding, post-processing, and surface finishing would cost him valuable time. FACTUREE (www.facturee.de) offers the complete service from a single source. With its large network of over 2,000 manufacturing partners, FACTUREE can now also supply injection molding processes including rapid prototyping and post-processing. This saves buyers significant time, and innovations can be brought to market more quickly and cost-effectively.
In the industry, product development and innovation cycles are becoming increasingly shorter. When speed is of the essence, "rapid prototyping" significantly shortens the development time. "Rapid prototyping" encompasses various manufacturing techniques that allow prototypes and pre-series parts to be produced very quickly, for example, in preparation for subsequent injection molding series production. This enables engineers and designers to create physical models of parts in the shortest possible time to check their shape, fit, and function before expensive tools are manufactured for mass production.
Injection molding is a popular manufacturing process for series production. It allows the precise and cost-effective production of large quantities with low production costs.
Shortening sourcing processes for fast time-to-market
To fully exploit the potential of these processes, it is essential to avoid obstacles. "The fastest manufacturing process does not fully serve its purpose if buyers or engineers spend valuable time searching for suppliers and the parts still go through different suppliers, from manufacturing to post-processing. This extends the time-to-market," explains Lukas Schlicker, Co-Founder and CPO of FACTUREE.
Digital procurement, as enabled by FACTUREE, provides relief here, particularly by eliminating the otherwise very time-consuming supplier sourcing. At FACTUREE, customers who need a part get everything from a single source: supplier search, technical consulting, manufacturing, post-processing, and surface finishing. This saves time and costs, as the coordination of all steps is done through a single interface.
"In addition to numerous other manufacturing processes, we also offer various types of injection molding processes, including conventional plastic injection molding, overmolding, and rapid injection molding. We leverage our network of established manufacturing partners and select the best combination of price, quality, and delivery time for each customer. This also applies to post-processing. We take the tedious search off the buyers' hands, advise them, and guide them to the best solution for them," says Lukas Schlicker.
The right material for each project
In injection molding, as in other processes, the right material choice is crucial to the success of a project. It is essential to consider whether the product is for indoor or outdoor use and whether high rigidity, flexibility, or resistance to environmental influences is required.
Lukas Schlicker says, "Different materials may be required for each project. To meet the requirements of various applications, there should be a wide range of specific and application-dependent material properties. Injection molded parts can be made from all common materials such as polypropylene, ABS, polyethylene, or polystyrene. Additional material options and a wide range of surface treatments are also part of our portfolio."
Various casting processes for different applications
In addition to injection molding, FACTUREE has incorporated other casting processes for the production of metal and plastic parts, such as pressure and vacuum casting, as well as traditional gravity casting with sand casting and investment casting. These offer specific advantages for different applications, from batch size 1 to mass production.
Lukas Schlicker says, "Pressure casting, for example, is ideal for producing high-precision metal parts with complex shapes and thin walls, such as those needed in electronic housings and automotive components, typically made from aluminum, zinc, or magnesium alloys. This process is particularly suitable for larger quantities. Vacuum casting, on the other hand, is ideal for the fast and cost-effective production of plastic parts with smooth surfaces and fine details. It is therefore ideal for producing prototypes, small series, and decorative parts in industries such as automotive, aerospace, and electronics. It is often used for rapid prototype and pre-series production in preparation for subsequent injection molding series production."
FACTUREE also offers its customers traditional gravity casting processes such as sand casting and investment casting. This classic group of casting processes is suitable for the production of large metal cast parts and can also be used for iron-based materials.
How buyers can save a lot of time, costs and effort with integrated processes
FACTUREE champions component production and surface finishing from a single source
Berlin, 30. April 2024 – In procurement, it is common practice that the production of components is commissioned from one supplier and the surface treatment is entrusted to another service provider. This process often overlooks the fact that there are manufacturers who offer not only machining but also surface treatment on one place – and can therefore supply the fully machined product. The Online Manufacturer FACTUREE (www.facturee.de) recommends the complete processing of drawing parts from a single source – an integrative approach that not only saves costs and effort on the part of purchasers, but also guarantees high quality.
Today's markets are faster and more volatile than ever before. Speed in procurement can offer a decisive competitive advantage to better meet customer needs, bring innovative products to market faster and differentiate yourself from the competition, for example. It is therefore important to minimize risks and slowdowns.
An all-in-one solution speeds up processes and closes gaps in quality
"Many companies are used to having parts manufactured first and then sending them to electroplating companies or surface coaters. This is inefficient. Transporting the parts costs time and money, while communication between different partners can lead to misunderstandings and quality problems," explains Lukas Schlicker, Co-Founder and CPO of FACTUREE.
With two suppliers, more paths are created – especially if there are defects or irregularities in the component. This is because these things often only become visible during surface treatment. "At that point, the parts have to be sent back. With complete machining from a single source, defective areas can be corrected immediately, or the part can be remanufactured. This avoids unnecessary complaints and saves the customer a considerable amount of time. They simply receive the finished product," says Lukas Schlicker and continues: "Even in the case of tight tolerances, there are disadvantages to having the surface treatment carried out by a separate supplier. The interaction of tight fits and anodizing is a typical example, as there is a risk here that the fit no longer meets the tolerance specifications after anodizing, making a further processing step necessary. An all-in-one provider can rework this directly so that the tolerance and fit are maintained."
With its procurement model, FACTUREE has a network of around 2,000 manufacturing partners from almost all areas, such as CNC machining, sheet metal processing, 3D printing, casting and forging processes as well as common additional treatments from surface technology and hardening processes. This enables FACTUREE to have almost all common surface treatments carried out by full-service providers directly after machining in a single process. The company also cooperates with specialized electroplating companies, for example, in order to offer techniques that are less in demand. This also has the advantage that most electroplating companies have minimum order quantities. As FACTUREE has a high order volume with the manufacturers, these are met and parts can be anodized for an attractive price, for example.
All surface coatings are possible
Lukas Schlicker says: "We are the sole contractual partner for our customers and take responsibility for the flawless quality of the production and surface treatments. We can also test sample parts in advance of the finishing process. This allows us to precisely match the color tone, gloss, and structure. The appearance of products can therefore be matched to the requirements."
FACTUREE therefore finds a tailor-made solution for every requirement. Every industry has its specifics, and these are taken into account. "There is almost no surface treatment that we cannot offer. Thanks to our large network of manufacturers, we can find the right solution, even for the most specialized requirements. We have customers from the medical technology sector, among others. The surfaces of many of the components required here are treated at the same time – for example, anodized, painted or powder-coated. This treatment ensures that the products are flawless and aesthetically pleasing for doctors and patients, which is an essential requirement in this area," explains Lukas Schlicker.
Anodizing is one of the most frequently requested surface treatments at FACTUREE. In addition to anodizing, painting and powder coating, the company enables all other forms of surface coating, for example hard coatings such as hard anodizing or DLC (diamond like carbon), conversion coatings such as chromating, various metallic coatings made of zinc, nickel, chrome, silver or gold as well as zinc-nickel coatings, which are popular in the automotive sector. This means that all requirements for drawing parts can be covered from a single source and time-consuming sourcing processes for purchasers are no longer necessary.
Online Manufacturer impresses expert jury with innovative form of procurement
Awarded: FACTUREE wins INDUSTRIE 4.0 AWARD for innovative procurement model
Berlin, February 02, 2024 – The Online Manufacturer FACTUREE (www.facturee.de) has won the "INDUSTRIE 4.0 AWARD 2023" in the "Manufacturing Platform" category. The international operations consultancy ROI-EFESO has been awarding this globally renowned industry prize to the pioneers of industrial digitalization since 2013. FACTUREE received the award for its innovative form of procurement: Online Manufacturing. This model creates flexibility, reliability and independence and enables the digitalization of purchasing in the industry.
FACTUREE takes first place in the "Manufacturing Platform" category of the INDUSTRIE 4.0 AWARD. The jury for this award is made up of high-caliber decision-makers from the industry and choices are made through an extensive application process based on anonymized project presentations. This means that all companies applying for the award have the same starting conditions and opportunities.
Jury member Prof. Dr. Ulrich Löwen, Siemens Corporate Technology, explains: "One of the particularly visionary ideas in the early days of Industry 4.0 was the scenario of 'order-driven manufacturing'. This was the subject of lively discussion in research but was viewed with scepticism in industrial practice - in fact, a high level of complexity and immense need for standardization stood in the way of implementation. After more than ten years, it has now been confirmed that researchers had the right topic on their agenda as FACTUREE is now implementing this visionary idea on the market with impressive results. It is therefore a worthy recipient of the INDUSTRIE 4.0 AWARD. We wish FACTUREE continued success on their journey."
Christopher Walzel, Co-Founder and CTO at FACTUREE, says: "We are delighted to receive this prestigious award. Our company started in 2017 in a living room and established itself as a real early mover in the DACH region coining the term Online Manufacturing. Today, FACTUREE has an eight-figure turnover - without investors. We are active throughout Europe and companies such as Siemens , Parker Hannifin and CERN are among our customers. The award once again encourages us to further expand our procurement model."
Online Manufacturing as the procurement model of the future
With online production, FACTUREE has established a new form of procurement on the market. It offers advantages such as free supply capacities at all times, even in times of crisis, and is therefore far superior to conventional contract manufacturing. The Online Manufacturer thus enables manufacturing companies to procure production parts in line with the times, eliminating dependence on individual suppliers. This is made possible because FACTUREE has an extensive production network of around 2,000 manufacturing partners from almost all areas of production technology, such as CNC machining, sheet metal processing, 3D printing, casting and forging processes and surface technology. Around 15,000 machines are constantly available for projects.
With its network concept and the strict selection process of its manufacturing partners, FACTUREE provides diverse and highly qualified manufacturing capacities. The Online Manufacturer selects the most suitable supplier for the respective order in terms of price, delivery time and quality based on smart algorithms . The end-to-end digitalization and automation of the ordering process leads to greater efficiency for the end customer.
"Online Manufacturing platforms are becoming increasingly relevant - both for clients and manufacturers. The networking of all participants in the value chain as well as simple and short processes for the end customer are some of the key advantages in the modern production world, which requires flexibility and speed. Conventional contract manufacturing is reaching its limits, especially in times of crisis - but Online Manufacturing also opens up new opportunities for manufacturing companies, as they can participate in the network," explains Benjamin Schwab, Co-Founder and CMO at FACTUREE.
