Offshoring. It became popular back when corporations first realized they could maximize their profits by outsourcing manufacturing to countries with cheaper labor.
However, thanks to increased quality, lead-time concerns and the rising value of currency, it’s no longer best practice in most[...]
OEM projects can be hectic. The nuances of why raw materials cost a specific amount are probably not something you think of often. Your main concerns are likely lead time, reliability, quality, satisfying your customer, and controlling overall costs.
But when it comes to that last one, wouldn’t[...]
Since the turn of the 20th century -- or perhaps much earlier -- roll forming has been used to quickly and cost-effectively produce metal parts for many industries.
One clutch roll forming advantage is that it's a highly repeatable metal fabrication process. The machine pulls a coiled strip[...]
Bringing metal roll forming processes into your plant is a complex investment. It’s more than just buying a machine that you turn on and off whenever you need it. There are additional costs and risks you won't understand unless you run a full-blown roll forming factory.
There’s nothing new or mysterious about “just-in-time” or JIT manufacturing. The idea has been around since the 1970s, and all it means is that you receive what you need, just when you need it -- hence the popular term just-in-time delivery.
Yet, when it first came into practice, it shook up[...]
Maintaining inventory of what a customer needs for production, and nothing more, is a delicate and complicated balance. As inventory ages, it can depreciate to a level that no longer adds value for the producer. This is especially true in metal forming processes.
For manufacturers who require a continuous flow of custom roll forming, late shipments and stock outages can negatively impact sales and make it difficult to compete in today’s global marketplace. To limit the possibility of such headaches, OEM often choose between multisourcing vs.[...]
Are you looking for a high-capacity manufacturing partner? Those are everywhere, even in the niche world of roll formed parts. But how many of those possess the agility of a small business?
Just roll forming isn’t very valuable to you. You can do just roll forming in-house. To be competitive, a manufacturer has to offer value throughout your supply chain, from beginning to end of the project.
While it's certainly niche, roll forming is still like any other metal manufacturing process. A little collaborative engineering and a lot of lean manufacturing practices equal mutual success.
