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The 7 Most Common Tolerance Mistakes Mechanical Engineers Make—and How to Fix Them in Minutes

In mechanical and manufacturing design, tolerances are the unsung heroes (or villains) of product quality, cost, manufacturability, and design intent. Not the ability to tolerate scope creep, schedule changes, or miscommunication in DFM collaboration—though that helps too. We’re talking dimensional and geometric tolerances. Every part, whether a simple bracket or a complex aerospace component, is […]

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Custom vs. Standard Mechanical Components: How to Source a BOM From One Manufacturing Partner

If you’ve ever managed a mechanical bill of materials (BOM), you know it can get complicated fast—especially when balancing custom vs. standard parts. Tracking parts is only a fraction of the challenge; BOM complexity also impacts both engineering and procurement. Each additional supplier, custom component, or interface increases risk, slows iteration, and complicates assembly. Early […]

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The Top 10 Schedule Levers in Product Development (and When to Use Each One)

In product development, perfect upfront planning is nearly impossible. Product development is complex, creative, and unpredictable. This is why project development schedules are inherently fragile and must be managed closely to maintain forward momentum and avoid delays. A project timeline is set by making a long list of assumptions, many of which change as each […]

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How to Build a BOM Strategically and Cost Down Your Part List

Chefs create recipes. Hardware engineers create BOMs and SOPs.  The bill of materials (BOM) acts as your product’s ingredient list—accounting for every part, material, and component—while standard operating procedures (SOP) are step-by-step build instructions. In this article, we’ll explain how to build a BOM that will help you clearly communicate your product’s material specifications to […]

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Progressive Sheet Metal Stamping: When to Use It for Complex, High-Volume Parts

In high-volume manufacturing, repeatability determines success. Scaling projects from prototypes to hundreds of thousands of units requires a shift in production logic from manual, part-by-part fabrication to an automated, continuous flow. Progressive stamping is an ideal solution for this transition to higher volumes. Integrating punching, coining, bending, and shearing into a single tool set eliminates […]

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The 2026 State of Manufacturing & Supply Chain: AI, Regional Resilience, and the Capacity Crunch 

Manufacturing is undergoing one of its most significant transformations in decades. Today, Fictiv released its 11th annual 2026 State of Manufacturing & Supply Chain Report, capturing insights from industry leaders across MedTech, Climate Tech, EV, and Robotics. The findings point to an industry moving decisively toward AI-enabled systems, regionally resilient production strategies, and more integrated […]

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Fictiv Releases 11th Annual State of Manufacturing & Supply Chain Report

New Research Shows AI, Digital Platforms, and Regional Resilience Are Reshaping Manufacturing and Supply Chain Leadership SAN FRANCISCO — Fictiv, a global supply chain and manufacturing company, and MISUMI Global, a leading global supplier of mechanical components and manufacturing services, today released the 11th Annual State of Manufacturing & Supply Chain Report, a survey of […]

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Manufacturing for Robotics: Processes, Strategy, and Component Selection

While robotics can automate many tasks, including manufacturing processes, the robots themselves must be intentionally designed and manufactured as complex systems. Manufacturing for robotics here refers to the design and production of robotic systems themselves, rather than the products those robots later assemble. It involves selecting and integrating the right mix of off-the-shelf parts and […]

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Product Assembly Guide: DFA and Joining Methods

When designing a product, much of the early focus naturally goes into the individual parts—what materials to use, how they’ll be manufactured, and whether each component can be made reliably. That work is critical, but it’s only part of the picture. What’s often overlooked is how those parts come together into a complete, buildable unit. […]

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Energy Storage Systems (ESS): Types, Design Considerations, and Manufacturing Challenges

In today’s technology-driven world, global energy demand is higher than ever—and it continues to grow. From data centers and electric vehicles to electrified manufacturing and smart infrastructure, modern economies rely on a constant, reliable power supply. Energy Storage Systems (ESS) have emerged as critical enabling technologies that make this possible, supporting renewable energy integration, improving […]