On-Demand Manufacturing: Is This Next Industrial Paradigm Shift?

The landscape of industrial manufacturing is changing to empower both small & large-scale companies. With a high demand for personalization and limited batch production, on-demand manufacturing is gaining a serious foothold.

This manufacturing approach is not limited to industrial production as more domains adopt on-demand manufacturing to optimize their resources and capital. But the question is — will ODM become the next industrial trend? It’s a different type of revolution that’s improving the existing practices and holds immense potential. So, on this note, let’s dive into it and explore whether it will become the next industrial trend.

The image is used for illustration purposes. Karv Automation is not the owner or creator of the image. (Image Source: eMotion Tech on Unsplash)

Is On-Demand Manufacturing the Next Innovation?

On-demand production is gaining popularity at a pace as it embraces manufacturers with several benefits. It is revolutionizing the entire paradigm as it allows companies to retain profitability and agility even on small-size productions.

In traditional manufacturing, companies were dependent on several third-party vendors to deliver their products to customers. Due to lack of flexibility and expensive manufacturing, they had to prepare and store extensive inventories. This practice is resource-intensive, and the profitability is uncertain.

But, on the other hand, on-demand parts manufacturing has enabled companies to ideate, design, prototype, and manufacture parts without limitation. Whether a company needs to produce 50 pieces or 50,000 — the cost & resources remain under control. This paradigm-shifting advantage will enable more small companies to drive more scalability to their manufacturing process. As more manufacturers will gain an edge with on-demand manufacturing, it’s an upcoming innovation that will go mainstream.

How Does On-Demand Manufacturing Work?

Instead of fabricating parts with a large set of inventory, this works around producing what customers need at any point in time. It eliminates the need to store and manage massive stocks that slow down a manufacturer’s growth. By leveraging Industry 4.0 technologies like cloud, additive manufacturing, and automation, customers can get a quick quote through a digital platform.

Once customers get a production quote for their project, they can track the progress of their orders throughout the process. In addition, it lets buyers order precise quantities as all aspects of manufacturing are transparent along with the pricing. As a result, on-demand production enables a just-in-time manufacturing strategy for companies that brings more flexibility and agility to the business.

The primary working differentiator of the on-demand industrial manufacturing industry is platform-based working. In conventional manufacturing, it often becomes overwhelming for new companies to figure out their inventory requirements. However, this new method waives off this confusion by enabling high-quality limited production.

Whether quotation, turnaround time, design for manufacturability, or real-time communication, all these essential elements are seamless in on-demand production.

Technologies Used In ODM

For enabling digital transformation in core industrial processes, companies need modern technologies. Additive manufacturing or 3d printing is among the leading ODM technologies. This advancement can help companies to rapidly prototype new designs and move ahead with the primary production.

The image is used for illustration purposes. Karv Automation is not the owner or creator of the image. (Image Source: zeal3dprinting)

Along with 3d printing, CNC machining is also an excellent and high-potential on-demand manufacturing technology. It has already changed the conventional production landscape for several industries. Similar to 3d printing, CNC also works through a program that processes a 3D CAD file to give machine instructions.

These technologies are making it easier for manufacturers to work with flexibility and in a cost-efficient way. As companies can transform their manufacturing setup, ODM is a boon to scale the business through these modern technologies.

On-Demand Manufacturing Benefits

Compared to conventional methods, on-demand manufacturing offers significant benefits that help companies grow and flourish.

• Cost optimization in storing and managing huge inventories
• No risk of overproduction and material wastage
• On-demand manufacturing streamlines the entire production process
• Minimum manufacturing delays
• A broader range of manufacturing materials and post-processing applications

Wrapping Up

On-demand manufacturing is the future of robust and fast-paced production across multiple industries. With the advancements of Industry 4.0 and ongoing trends in the consumer market, on-demand manufacturing is the next industrial paradigm shift.