Supply Chain Disruptions: Innovative Solutions
In response to the shortages manufacturers have seen, many businesses have come up with solutions that are outside of their “normal” operations. Many businesses have shifted operations from manufacturing a product that has not been deemed essential to manufacturing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) including masks, face shields, test swabs, and gowns. Other businesses have to reach out to suppliers outside their normal network to find needed materials and services to overcome the challenges they are facing.
The Additive Manufacturing community has played a big part in rapidly responding to the needs of healthcare providers. Businesses and individuals with 3D Printers quickly shared open-source designs and started forming groups to mass-produce PPE. Locally, the 3Dc19 group responded to the need and recruited over 400 printers to join their effort to print face shields and ear savers. The ability to adapt quickly allowed this group to get face shields produced within hours of the idea for assessment and within days they were shipping 100’s to meet local needs. Within a month of the initial effort starting, the group had donated over 36,000 face shields and ear savers! The group also worked with a local injection molding company to ramp up production once the demand outpaced the capacity of 3D printers and there was sufficient justification for the cost of tooling. To learn more about their effort, check out www.3dc19.com. The graphic below shows statistics on the 3Dc19 effort as of 4/29/2020.
Manufacturers of higher end, resin-base 3D printers have also worked with the FDA to get approval for test swabs, then pushed all the necessary information out to the companies that have purchased their equipment for production (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfBFi7Zuj3o). Using additive manufacturing allows the production of test swabs to be completed all over the US using existing equipment without any retooling.
Another industry we have seen rapidly respond to is the craft brewing/distilleries shifting to produce hand sanitizer. This ability to quickly adapt has allowed these manufacturers to maintain at least some of their staff during a time when their core business has been disrupted while also supporting their local communities by providing essential products.
Now what?
What we have “always done” may not work anymore. Consumer habits have changed drastically in the last few months and it is possible some of the changes will stick. We need to be willing to quickly pivot to address these shifts.
Additive Manufacturing has proven its usefulness through this crisis. While traditional manufacturing is absolutely the best solution in many cases, Additive can stand in the gap while tooling is developed or provide an effective solution for smaller-scale local needs. Depending on complexity and requirements, Additive Manufacturing may be able to help your business if you are unable to find needed parts in the aftermath of COVID-19. Have a part in mind? Let us help you decide if Additive is a good fit by emailing sales@perceptioneng.com and we can give you an honest assessment.
Networking is still extremely important. Many of the efforts that have been successful during this time have been effective because of the network of people involved. We have found that especially in hard times, most people are looking for ways to help. Don’t be afraid to reach out to your local Chamber of Commerce or your LinkedIn network.
Consider local suppliers you haven’t worked with in the past. The injection molder that helped the 3Dc19 group was able to quickly respond to the need despite this being an industry they hadn’t served in the past. Many businesses will have to shift their business models in response to the disruptions and may be able to supply products they had not in the past.
Feel free to contact us if you have any questions or if you require our contract services! Thanks for reading our blog!