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Tariffs and Import Duties 101: A Guide to Managing Global Trade Costs

What Do Tariffs Mean for Global Manufacturing and Supply Chain? Tariffs are making headlines in the manufacturing world, and for good reason. A single policy change can disrupt production, impacting costs, lead times, and sourcing strategies. Few factors shape global supply chains more than tariffs and import duties. Whether you’re importing machined components, sourcing injection-molded […]

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Sheet Metal Prototyping: Processes, Materials, Applications, and Benefits

Sheet metal prototyping is a proven method for evaluating a part’s form, fit, and function before full-scale production. Modern advancements in fabrication tools and digital workflows have made the process faster, more precise, and closely aligned with production intent—allowing teams to iterate quickly and reduce time to market without compromising quality. Prototype fabrication uses standard […]

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Metal Parts Manufacturing: A Comprehensive Guide to Processes, Applications, and Industry Uses

Metal parts manufacturing is the process of shaping, cutting, and assembling metal materials into components used in countless industries. Its importance lies in its ability to produce durable, precise, and high-performance parts that meet the demanding requirements of modern technology and infrastructure. This article reviews key metal parts manufacturing processes for everything from large-scale components […]

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Optimizing Manufacturing Supply Chain Management: Strategies for Efficiency and Resilience

Manufacturing supply chain management (SCM) is critical in ensuring that design, materials, processes, and logistics are seamlessly coordinated to deliver high-quality products efficiently. Effective SCM optimizes resource allocation, minimizes waste, enhances production efficiency, and strengthens supplier relationships.  By incorporating lean manufacturing principles, companies can refine their operations further to reduce inefficiencies and maximize value creation. […]

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Understanding Pad Printing: Process, Applications, and Comparisons With Screen and UV Printing

Printing plays a critical role in modern manufacturing by enabling companies to add branding, safety information, traceability features, and functional markings to a wide range of products. Several different printing techniques exist, each suited to different materials, shapes, and production requirements. Among these, pad printing stands out as a highly versatile and precise method, particularly […]

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CNC vs. 3D Printing for Prototypes – Which Is Best for Your Project?

Prototyping is a critical stage of the product development lifecycle, allowing designers to validate their ideas physically before moving on to production. The prototype manufacturing method you choose is a make-or-break decision, as processes allowing quick and accurate manufacturing will enable you to iterate through designs efficiently, ultimately leading to a better end product. CNC […]

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Fictiv-Made Part 2: Design for Injection Molding and Overmolding

When designing a product, it’s important to base your design on the manufacturing process you intend to use. It helps to consider this as early as possible in the design process, as it can be more time-consuming to go back and add manufacturing details later once the design is further along. In the case of […]

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Lean Manufacturing in Production Processes 

Optimizing Injection Molding, Casting, Sheet Metal Fabrication, 3D Printing, and CNC Machining Lean manufacturing, a proven methodology focused on continuous improvement and waste reduction, has significantly shaped modern industrial production. It prioritizes maximizing value for the customer while minimizing inefficiencies across both physical (materials and resources) and process (time and energy) aspects. With its widespread […]

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Just-in-Time Manufacturing: Streamlining Production for Optimal Efficiency​

The modern manufacturing landscape is constantly evolving, with a continued focus on minimizing waste and improving productivity. Just-in-Time (JIT) manufacturing was created with this philosophy at its core. It enables manufacturers to respond to changing market conditions and to meet the increasing consumer demand for high-quality products at lower costs. JIT works in conjunction with […]

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High-Mix, Low-Volume (HMLV) Manufacturing: Production and Supply Chain Strategies 

In this article, we explore the unique characteristics of HMLV manufacturing, its challenges, and key optimization strategies. What Is High-Mix, Low-Volume Manufacturing? High-mix low-volume (HMLV) manufacturing is a production strategy particularly beneficial for businesses needing customized, small-batch products. This type of production differs from mass production, where each item is made on a large scale […]