A Guide to Warehouse Inventory Management: Best Practices, Challenges & Solutions

Bhagyashri Kambale | February 03, 2022 | 971 views
A GUIDE TO WAREHOUSE INVENTORY
Inventory management in warehouse is a never-ending cycle till the time the business is in operation. As your business expands, so does the amount of effort and money spent on warehouse inventory management. After all, the more orders you receive, the more time you'll need to spend on inventory replenishment and warehouse organization.

Fortunately, there are several methods to enhance the warehouse inventory management process, from more efficient storage to the use of automation and other solutions that can minimize manual labor, human error, and total expenses.

In this article, we will look at some of the key challenges that manufacturers face while managing their warehouse inventory and their solutions. Furthermore, we see the best practices for optimizing your warehouse inventory management that would ultimately enhance the efficiency of business operations.

Warehousing and Inventory Management Best Practices


Appoint a Warehouse Supervisor

Managing an effective warehouse begins with hiring a qualified manager. Your organization should choose a warehouse manager with substantial expertise in operating a warehouse comparable to the one you will be operating. A skilled warehouse manager ensures that everything runs smoothly. He/she must be organized, knowledgeable about warehouse operations and technology, and function as a quarterback for the warehouse's rest of the team.

Your warehouse manager will monitor your staff to ensure things are correctly scanned and cataloged. Additionally, they will frequently engage with your warehouse inventory management software to keep a bird's eye perspective on your goods. Finally, your warehouse manager will be responsible for handling any inconsistencies or challenges that develop, so that they respond dynamically anytime your warehouse staff discovers a problem. Some attributes to look out for in your warehouse manager are: organizational ability, precision, tech-savvy, safety-mindedness, leadership, integrity, and a sense of calm.

Plan the Warehouse Layout

The structural layout of your warehouse will either assist or limit your warehouse workers' ability to promptly pick, load, and send items out in response to a sale or transfer request. By dividing warehouses into zones or slots and numbering aisles and bins, warehouse employees may more easily navigate the storage facility. While not all warehouses are designed the same way, an organized warehouse is necessary for effective operations. The way you plan your warehouse space will depend on the things you store. For example, a warehouse containing huge machinery may have specialized zones, whereas a warehouse storing small retail products will have bins and aisles.

Optimizing your warehouse plan will not only enhance space utilization but also increase warehouse productivity and save you money. Consequently, this helps you reach your company goals and satisfy your customers with on-time deliveries.

Create a Workflow

Maintaining an efficient inventory control warehouse is critical to avoid bottlenecks and out-of-stock situations. In addition, a streamlined inventory workflow can assist you in keeping your buyers satisfied and convert them into loyal customers. So, how would you establish an efficient workflow?

Here are some helpful warehousing and inventory management suggestions:
  • Make an attempt to estimate future sales.
  • Use tools that assess old sales and forecast future sales for you.
  • Set a minimum production quantity for each product. This helps to avoid losing sales and income due to product shortages.
  • Set a maximum stock limit. This assists in avoiding overstocking a product, which can result in considerable losses. 
  • Ensure that products are delivered out in the order in which they were received (first in, first out) to maintain product freshness and reduce shelf life. 
  • Use a warehouse inventory management system. This is the simplest and most effective method of maintaining a steady inventory flow.

Invest in Warehouse Inventory Software

A warehouse management system (WMS) is a software solution designed to automate, optimize, and support the operations and activities of a business warehouse. It can automate and simplify a variety of warehouse management operations and maintain a real-time inventory record of all available goods. When goods arrive and depart the warehouse, your warehouse inventory management system will accurately show all inventories and its whereabouts.

Warehouse inventory management software may be configured to automatically replenish stock when a predefined minimum number of items are reached. The finest software analyzes previous sales data automatically to identify the appropriate minimum number for automated reordering. It also determines the minimum quantities at which each product should be replenished.


Warehouse Inventory Challenges and Solutions


Limited Visibility & Solution

Inventory visibility refers to the ability to view and track inventory in real-time. It also helps gain insight into the exact number of units of each SKU in stock at all locations, along with its location within a warehouse or fulfillment center.
When inventory is difficult to identify or find in your warehouse, it can result in incomplete, inaccurate, or delayed shipments. Receiving and locating the correct stock is essential for smooth running warehouse operations as it helps to maintain a positive customer experience.

Solution: To optimize purchasing and receiving operations, increase accuracy, and eliminate missing goods. Including photos with correct product descriptions in your inventory database can also be helpful. Investing in inventory management software is, once again, the best way to overcome low inventory visibility. These systems are meant to automate the process of inventory management across the supply chain, all from a single dashboard. The adoption of digital and data-driven procedures allows businesses to have a comprehensive view of inventory management in warehouse.

Inventory Depletion & Solution

Unsold goods are considered a loss in inventory. Multiple factors contribute to inventory depletion or shrinkage. Sometimes stocks can become obsolete or out-of-date before being sold. In addition, spoilage, damage, or theft are a few other reasons for inventory loss and can be referred to as a serious supply chain issue. Therefore, it is necessary to identify, track, and measure trouble areas.

Solution: Using a third-party logistics (3PL) or fulfillment service (fulfillment solution) increases security. To reduce inventory shrinkage, they'll take the necessary steps to keep your goods secure. They'll provide you with the technology and reports you need to keep an eye on stock levels.

Using an Old Excel Spreadsheet & Solution

The expansion of a company will be hampered if inventory is managed manually using paper-based techniques. A lack of digitalization and an ineffective inventory management procedure yield dismal outcomes when sales volumes rise and inventory increases. It is time to replace excel spreadsheets with newer technologies like business intelligence and to analyze and track large businesses better.

Solution: Having an inventory management system will make the process more efficient and provide you with real-time data. Businesses utilize various inventory management systems, depending on their type of operations. Manual inventory, periodic inventory, and perpetual inventory are three examples of inventory management approaches. Another option is to use one of the several software programs such as Upserve, Megaventory, and Orderhive for inventory management that are currently available on the market.

Warehouse Space Management & Solution

A warehouse layout that facilitates the simple selection, packaging, and shipping of orders is a sign of efficient warehouse space management. Designing a functional warehouse layout is critical since it directly influences the efficiency and productivity of your warehouse. A well-designed warehouse layout enables easy access to stored goods, saves travel time, and increases order fulfillment rates.

Solution: Optimize storage space and inventory flow by utilizing inventory management systems that include warehouse management features. Automate order picking, packaging, and shipping operations by categorizing inventory storage by shelf, bin, and compartment.

Communication Difficulties & Solution

Collaboration and communication are critical in the management of warehouse. Lack of communication in a warehouse can result in disorganized operations, resulting in errors and inefficient processes. In practice, this might imply that stock is misplaced or delayed, resulting in a negative customer experience.

Solution: Warehouse workers should be equipped with phones and radios for one-on-one communication. Mobile devices are the foundation of portable communication, which is critical for warehouse employees who are always on the move. Supervisors and managers must have a PA system, also known as a public address system, to make announcements in an emergency or when loading and unloading goods.

Another option to simplify warehouse operations is to distribute wearable GPS devices to your employees. Using cloud-based software to manage inventory also provides the best solution for checking stock and communicating data across departments.

Final Words

Warehousing and inventory management affect every step of your e-commerce supply chain, from receiving and storing goods to fulfilling and shipping orders. Poor warehouse inventory management may lead to higher logistics costs, dissatisfied warehouse personnel, more picking and packing errors, delayed shipments, and disappointed customers. However, with some of the best practices mentioned above, you may improve your warehouse inventory management. You can take advantage of the solutions to most of the key challenges listed above.

FAQ


What are the four ways to control inventory?

The four key ways of controlling inventory are as follows: just-in-time delivery, downloading inventory software, stock control, and lowering carrying costs.

How is inventory management different from warehouse management?

The primary difference between the two systems is the human component. While inventory management is concerned exclusively with merchandise or stock, warehouse management includes the administration of workers as well as shipping or shipping professionals who work in a warehouse setting.

What are the four inventory management types?

Primarily, inventory management is grouped into four types:
  • Raw materials
  • Works-in-progress
  • Maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) goods
  • Finished goods

Spotlight

MATERIALS SOLUTIONS

Specialist in metals Additive Manufacturing in high performance alloys. We are moving 3D printing out of the laboratory and onto the factory floor. We solve complex printing engineering challenges and focus on high-end prototypes and serial production for customers across the Power Generation, Aerospace, Automotive and Process and Tooling sectors.

OTHER ARTICLES

Achieving Interoperability in an Industry 4.0 Factory

Article | February 11, 2020

As a part of the Industry 4.0 movement, factory engineers are increasingly adopting some form of industrial Ethernet to interconnect the machines and other equipment implementing their production processes. Ethernet has been around in multiple forms for over 40 years. Most of it serves the IT community by interconnecting PCs and other equipment to a company LAN. Because of its flexibility, Ethernet has been adapted to many industrial uses.

Read More

The Impact of Coronavirus on Electronic Manufacturing

Article | February 11, 2020

Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak, is considered a crucial hub in the middle of China, a place of high importance for the production of automobiles, electronics, optics, and fiber optics. Wuhan and surrounding cities in the Hubei province are currently on a government-imposed quarantine at a scale the world has never seen before, some Chinese officials have referred to the situation as warlike.

Read More

Digitalizing Your Manufacturing Ecosystem

Article | February 10, 2020

Making digitalization work for you requires an understanding of your manufacturing ecosystem. Standards - such as ISA-95 - only guide you on a journey to more deeply comprehend the workings of your unique process for manufacturing your products. A batch manufacturing ecosystem often includes campaign management. Campaign management is not mentioned in ISA-95, which only speaks generally of order processing.

Read More

4 Food and Beverage Manufacturing Trends on Tap for 2020

Article | February 10, 2020

It’s the food and beverage industry’s job to appeal to consumer tastes by keeping tabs on what’s hot and what’s not. In the 1990s, for instance, fat free or reduced fat was all the rage, evidenced by the variety of products with such descriptions featured in bold typeface on cartons, cardboard and boxes. Fast forward to today, thanks in part to advancements in nutrition science, fat is back and is recommended in low-carb diets such as Atkins and Keto.

Read More

Spotlight

MATERIALS SOLUTIONS

Specialist in metals Additive Manufacturing in high performance alloys. We are moving 3D printing out of the laboratory and onto the factory floor. We solve complex printing engineering challenges and focus on high-end prototypes and serial production for customers across the Power Generation, Aerospace, Automotive and Process and Tooling sectors.

Related News

MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY, SMART FACTORY

XNRGY to Double Capacity of its Montreal Manufacturing Facility

PR Newswire | May 31, 2023

XNRGY Climate Systems, a leader in the design and manufacturing of energy efficient commercial heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems ("HVAC"), today announced that is has secured financing from Divco, a Montreal-based commercial real-estate builder, to add an additional 100,000 sq. ft. of production capacity to its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Montreal. This expansion will bring the total manufacturing capacity in Montreal to 200,000 sq. ft. in 2024. Led by industry pioneers with decades of combined working experience, XNRGY is on a mission to reduce the carbon footprint of commercial buildings. XNRGY's high-performance HVAC systems are designed to increase energy efficiency, reduce costs, and provide superior indoor air quality to mission critical customers including hospitals, clean rooms, educational institutions, and data centers. The expanded state-of-the art facility in Montreal will primarily manufacture custom air handling units and DX systems for delivery to building owners across North America. The additional space and equipment will add significant capacity and accelerate the ability of XNRGY's world-class team to meet the rapidly growing customer demand spanning coast to coast. "We're expanding capacity to meet significant customer demand for XNRGY products. This increased capacity coupled with investment in the management systems to support rapid growth will enable XNRGY to accelerate production, expedite delivery and increase our market share," said Wais Jalali, the Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of XNRGY. "We sincerely thank our valued customers, development partner Divco, the greater Montreal business community, and our dedicated XNRGY team for their strong support during this surge in demand." "We are thrilled to have had the pleasure of working together on the first phase of XNRGY's Montreal facility, and our team is excited to continue our partnership with XNRGY for the second phase." said Adam Turner, President of Divco. "The synergy and shared commitment to excellence between our organizations have laid the foundation for continued success. With great enthusiasm, we look forward to the successful realization of this next phase." About XNRGY Climate Systems XNRGY is a privately held climate technology company which designs, engineers, and manufactures sophisticated, sustainable innovative solutions focused on reducing carbon footprint, water usage and energy consumption. Key products include large custom refrigeration and chilled water air handling units, vertical and horizontal CRAC and CRAH units up to 600 kW, clean room systems, energy recovery systems, low dewpoint EV manufacturing units, and factory installed turnkey controls platform. XNRGY uses BIM/CFD to prevent transient performance failures in mission-critical facilities. XNRGY looks at iso vectors and pressure distribution to design the most efficient systems for clients. This contributes to lower KW while delivering the maximum air to the buildings as well as adding to LEED and NET ZERO initiatives (Paris Climate Accord).

Read More

MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY

Quintus Technologies High Pressure Flexform™ Press Gives Airframe Manufacturer LAUAK Group a Competitive Edge

Prweb | May 30, 2023

Quintus Technologies will supply a high pressure fluid cell press to France’s LAUAK Group, a Tier 1 supplier to the aerospace industry. The press will be installed at the LAUAK Aerostructures factory in Grandola, Portugal, in September 2023. Reaffirming its continued commitment to productivity enhancement, LAUAK selected the Quintus model QFC 0.7x1.8-800 press with high pressure technology to bolster its manufacturing efficiency. “The forming press is undoubtedly at the heart of sheet metal production,” says Mikel Charritton, LAUAK Group Managing Director. “Especially in the context of the current aerospace ramp-up, in particular the A320, A350, and B737 programs, LAUAK’s capital equipment investments are strongly influenced by the imperatives of competitiveness. This press significantly increases and secures our production capacity.” Quintus’s proprietary hydroforming process requires only one rigid tool half, an innovation that not only generates significant tool cost savings but also eliminates several forming operations, intermediate heat treatments, and operator dependencies. The Quintus press will operate at a high forming pressure of 800 bar (11,600 psi) over a work area of 700 mm x 1800 mm (27.6 x 73 inches) in the Grandola facility. “Moving to a new, more powerful press will reduce manual rework times, thus improving our competitiveness, especially given the current challenges recruiting personnel experienced in sheet metal forming,” Mr. Charritton observes. The equipment purchase was also influenced by LAUAK’s previous experience with the press manufacturer. “We own a three-meter Quintus Flexform press in France, and we are very satisfied with it,” he adds. LAUAK is complementing its press investment with the Quintus® Care Program, a rigorous agreement that ensures flawless press operation and equipment maintenance. The program provides for application support, high availability of spare and wear parts, and guaranteed and prioritized technical support. It also includes annual press inspections, training, and recertification of LAUAK personnel to maintain and elevate their skills. “We are pleased that LAUAK has chosen to reinforce its cooperation with Quintus since the purchase of its first fluid cell press,” comments Jan Söderström, CEO of Quintus Technologies. “We appreciate the opportunity to once again work with them to help strengthen their competitiveness.” About Quintus Technologies Quintus Technologies is the global leader in high pressure technology. The company designs, manufactures, installs, and supports high pressure systems in three principal areas: densification of advanced materials; sheet metal forming; and high pressure processing for food and beverage innovation, safety, and shelf life. Quintus has delivered over 1,900 systems to customers within industries such as energy, medical implants, space, aerospace, automotive, and food processing. The company is headquartered in Västerås, Sweden, with a presence in 45 countries worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.quintustechnologies.com About LAUAK Group From its origins supplying sheet metal components to Dassault Aviation in 1975, the LAUAK Group has grown to become a major manufacturer of primary parts, sub-assemblies, assemblies for aerostructures and aero engines for the global aeronautics industry. A Tier 1 supplier to Airbus, Bombardier, Embraer, and Dassault and a Tier 2 supplier to Spirit, Liebherr, and Safran, LAUAK is active in technology niches such as cold and hot sheet metal forming, welding, surface treatments, NDT, assembly, and piping. A tailored fleet of equipment extends its manufacturing capabilities to all types of materials, from aluminum alloys to hard metals, including stainless steel, Inconel, and titanium. LAUAK factories are located in France, Portugal, Canada, Mexico, and India. To find out more, go to http://www.groupe-lauak.com/en

Read More

ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING

Mantle is Awarded the SME Additive Manufacturing Start-Up Technology Award for Its Innovative 3D Printing Solution for Tooling

Businesswire | May 30, 2023

Mantle, the leader in metal 3D printing for toolmaking, announced today that it has won the prestigious Additive Manufacturing Start-Up Technology Award for its innovative metal 3D printing technology. SME, formerly known as the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, selected Mantle and delivered the award at the 2023 RAPID + TCT conference, North America’s largest Additive Manufacturing event. The AM Start-Up Technology Award recognizes businesses with unique technologies that solve existing manufacturing problems with a unique technical approach. Mantle was selected as the winner of the award for its groundbreaking TrueShape 3D printing technology, which significantly reduces the cost and lead times to produce precision tooling while allowing for better tool designs and solving skilled labor shortages. The AM Start-Up Technology Award is a highly competitive award that attracts some of the best and brightest start-ups in the 3D printing industry. SME, an organization committed to promoting and supporting the manufacturing industry and the creator of critical toolmaking content such as Tooling U, screened numerous start-ups before selecting Mantle based on the criteria of: Technical feasibility: the technology has been demonstrated or is feasibly sound Uniqueness: the technology solves an existing problem with a unique approach Market potential: the technology serves a large market and can make a meaningful impact Messaging and communication: the company has a clear value proposition and messaging "We are extremely pleased to be selected by SME as the 2023 AM Start-Up Technology Award winner. Since its public launch, Mantle has proven significant value for our customers by automating the process of making precision tools. Through multiple case studies, manufacturers of all sizes have experienced the ROI gains that Mantle's 3D printing technology delivers by slashing the time and money needed to manufacture precision molds compared to traditional toolmaking processes.” - Ted Sorom, CEO and co-founder, Mantle Mantle announced the availability of its production machines in September of 2022 and has quickly established itself as the leader in metal 3D printing for precision toolmaking. Mantle has already been adopted by major OEMs, molders, and toolmakers who have benefited from the reduced time to market, improved part quality and lower cost production that come from using Mantle technology. “Mantle's win is a testament to our company's commitment to innovation and excellence. The award is a significant achievement and a major milestone for the company, demonstrating the potential of its technology and their ability to make a significant impact on the precision tooling market.” - Paul DiLaura, CCO, Mantle About Mantle Mantle accelerates product development by simplifying how mold tool components are made. Mantle’s TrueShape™ metal 3D printing technology delivers the accuracy, surface finish, and tool steel properties required for demanding tooling applications. Tools made with Mantle’s technology have produced millions of parts while reducing tooling lead times and costs. Mantle is headquartered in San Francisco, California. To learn more, visit mantle3D.com.

Read More

MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY, SMART FACTORY

XNRGY to Double Capacity of its Montreal Manufacturing Facility

PR Newswire | May 31, 2023

XNRGY Climate Systems, a leader in the design and manufacturing of energy efficient commercial heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems ("HVAC"), today announced that is has secured financing from Divco, a Montreal-based commercial real-estate builder, to add an additional 100,000 sq. ft. of production capacity to its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Montreal. This expansion will bring the total manufacturing capacity in Montreal to 200,000 sq. ft. in 2024. Led by industry pioneers with decades of combined working experience, XNRGY is on a mission to reduce the carbon footprint of commercial buildings. XNRGY's high-performance HVAC systems are designed to increase energy efficiency, reduce costs, and provide superior indoor air quality to mission critical customers including hospitals, clean rooms, educational institutions, and data centers. The expanded state-of-the art facility in Montreal will primarily manufacture custom air handling units and DX systems for delivery to building owners across North America. The additional space and equipment will add significant capacity and accelerate the ability of XNRGY's world-class team to meet the rapidly growing customer demand spanning coast to coast. "We're expanding capacity to meet significant customer demand for XNRGY products. This increased capacity coupled with investment in the management systems to support rapid growth will enable XNRGY to accelerate production, expedite delivery and increase our market share," said Wais Jalali, the Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of XNRGY. "We sincerely thank our valued customers, development partner Divco, the greater Montreal business community, and our dedicated XNRGY team for their strong support during this surge in demand." "We are thrilled to have had the pleasure of working together on the first phase of XNRGY's Montreal facility, and our team is excited to continue our partnership with XNRGY for the second phase." said Adam Turner, President of Divco. "The synergy and shared commitment to excellence between our organizations have laid the foundation for continued success. With great enthusiasm, we look forward to the successful realization of this next phase." About XNRGY Climate Systems XNRGY is a privately held climate technology company which designs, engineers, and manufactures sophisticated, sustainable innovative solutions focused on reducing carbon footprint, water usage and energy consumption. Key products include large custom refrigeration and chilled water air handling units, vertical and horizontal CRAC and CRAH units up to 600 kW, clean room systems, energy recovery systems, low dewpoint EV manufacturing units, and factory installed turnkey controls platform. XNRGY uses BIM/CFD to prevent transient performance failures in mission-critical facilities. XNRGY looks at iso vectors and pressure distribution to design the most efficient systems for clients. This contributes to lower KW while delivering the maximum air to the buildings as well as adding to LEED and NET ZERO initiatives (Paris Climate Accord).

Read More

MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY

Quintus Technologies High Pressure Flexform™ Press Gives Airframe Manufacturer LAUAK Group a Competitive Edge

Prweb | May 30, 2023

Quintus Technologies will supply a high pressure fluid cell press to France’s LAUAK Group, a Tier 1 supplier to the aerospace industry. The press will be installed at the LAUAK Aerostructures factory in Grandola, Portugal, in September 2023. Reaffirming its continued commitment to productivity enhancement, LAUAK selected the Quintus model QFC 0.7x1.8-800 press with high pressure technology to bolster its manufacturing efficiency. “The forming press is undoubtedly at the heart of sheet metal production,” says Mikel Charritton, LAUAK Group Managing Director. “Especially in the context of the current aerospace ramp-up, in particular the A320, A350, and B737 programs, LAUAK’s capital equipment investments are strongly influenced by the imperatives of competitiveness. This press significantly increases and secures our production capacity.” Quintus’s proprietary hydroforming process requires only one rigid tool half, an innovation that not only generates significant tool cost savings but also eliminates several forming operations, intermediate heat treatments, and operator dependencies. The Quintus press will operate at a high forming pressure of 800 bar (11,600 psi) over a work area of 700 mm x 1800 mm (27.6 x 73 inches) in the Grandola facility. “Moving to a new, more powerful press will reduce manual rework times, thus improving our competitiveness, especially given the current challenges recruiting personnel experienced in sheet metal forming,” Mr. Charritton observes. The equipment purchase was also influenced by LAUAK’s previous experience with the press manufacturer. “We own a three-meter Quintus Flexform press in France, and we are very satisfied with it,” he adds. LAUAK is complementing its press investment with the Quintus® Care Program, a rigorous agreement that ensures flawless press operation and equipment maintenance. The program provides for application support, high availability of spare and wear parts, and guaranteed and prioritized technical support. It also includes annual press inspections, training, and recertification of LAUAK personnel to maintain and elevate their skills. “We are pleased that LAUAK has chosen to reinforce its cooperation with Quintus since the purchase of its first fluid cell press,” comments Jan Söderström, CEO of Quintus Technologies. “We appreciate the opportunity to once again work with them to help strengthen their competitiveness.” About Quintus Technologies Quintus Technologies is the global leader in high pressure technology. The company designs, manufactures, installs, and supports high pressure systems in three principal areas: densification of advanced materials; sheet metal forming; and high pressure processing for food and beverage innovation, safety, and shelf life. Quintus has delivered over 1,900 systems to customers within industries such as energy, medical implants, space, aerospace, automotive, and food processing. The company is headquartered in Västerås, Sweden, with a presence in 45 countries worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.quintustechnologies.com About LAUAK Group From its origins supplying sheet metal components to Dassault Aviation in 1975, the LAUAK Group has grown to become a major manufacturer of primary parts, sub-assemblies, assemblies for aerostructures and aero engines for the global aeronautics industry. A Tier 1 supplier to Airbus, Bombardier, Embraer, and Dassault and a Tier 2 supplier to Spirit, Liebherr, and Safran, LAUAK is active in technology niches such as cold and hot sheet metal forming, welding, surface treatments, NDT, assembly, and piping. A tailored fleet of equipment extends its manufacturing capabilities to all types of materials, from aluminum alloys to hard metals, including stainless steel, Inconel, and titanium. LAUAK factories are located in France, Portugal, Canada, Mexico, and India. To find out more, go to http://www.groupe-lauak.com/en

Read More

ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING

Mantle is Awarded the SME Additive Manufacturing Start-Up Technology Award for Its Innovative 3D Printing Solution for Tooling

Businesswire | May 30, 2023

Mantle, the leader in metal 3D printing for toolmaking, announced today that it has won the prestigious Additive Manufacturing Start-Up Technology Award for its innovative metal 3D printing technology. SME, formerly known as the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, selected Mantle and delivered the award at the 2023 RAPID + TCT conference, North America’s largest Additive Manufacturing event. The AM Start-Up Technology Award recognizes businesses with unique technologies that solve existing manufacturing problems with a unique technical approach. Mantle was selected as the winner of the award for its groundbreaking TrueShape 3D printing technology, which significantly reduces the cost and lead times to produce precision tooling while allowing for better tool designs and solving skilled labor shortages. The AM Start-Up Technology Award is a highly competitive award that attracts some of the best and brightest start-ups in the 3D printing industry. SME, an organization committed to promoting and supporting the manufacturing industry and the creator of critical toolmaking content such as Tooling U, screened numerous start-ups before selecting Mantle based on the criteria of: Technical feasibility: the technology has been demonstrated or is feasibly sound Uniqueness: the technology solves an existing problem with a unique approach Market potential: the technology serves a large market and can make a meaningful impact Messaging and communication: the company has a clear value proposition and messaging "We are extremely pleased to be selected by SME as the 2023 AM Start-Up Technology Award winner. Since its public launch, Mantle has proven significant value for our customers by automating the process of making precision tools. Through multiple case studies, manufacturers of all sizes have experienced the ROI gains that Mantle's 3D printing technology delivers by slashing the time and money needed to manufacture precision molds compared to traditional toolmaking processes.” - Ted Sorom, CEO and co-founder, Mantle Mantle announced the availability of its production machines in September of 2022 and has quickly established itself as the leader in metal 3D printing for precision toolmaking. Mantle has already been adopted by major OEMs, molders, and toolmakers who have benefited from the reduced time to market, improved part quality and lower cost production that come from using Mantle technology. “Mantle's win is a testament to our company's commitment to innovation and excellence. The award is a significant achievement and a major milestone for the company, demonstrating the potential of its technology and their ability to make a significant impact on the precision tooling market.” - Paul DiLaura, CCO, Mantle About Mantle Mantle accelerates product development by simplifying how mold tool components are made. Mantle’s TrueShape™ metal 3D printing technology delivers the accuracy, surface finish, and tool steel properties required for demanding tooling applications. Tools made with Mantle’s technology have produced millions of parts while reducing tooling lead times and costs. Mantle is headquartered in San Francisco, California. To learn more, visit mantle3D.com.

Read More

Events