The $2T Opportunity:

Leaning Into “Lean” Manufacturing

 

7 Ways B2Bs Are Investing in Digital
During the COVID-19 Crisis

Delivery’s Day Has Come:

Leaning Into “Lean” Manufacturing

7 Ways B2Bs Are Investing in Digital
During the COVID-19 Crisis

Leaning Into “Lean” Manufacturing

 

Manufacturers Seek A Healthy Dose of Digital

In March of 2020, Amazon announced a rethinking of their digital strategy. The global eCommerce giant flipped its playbook, focusing on a new goal: Making consumers buy less. The reason? Inventory can’t keep pace with demand while consumers shop from home, almost exclusively online. Most manufacturers and distributors, however, are experiencing the opposite effect.

With warehouses and assembly lines low on personnel, and demand for industrial supplies running low in many verticals, digital has never been more important. Take for example the story of Protolabs, the eCommerce based parts manufacturer. With a digitally enabled team and supply chain, Protolabs was able to “process orders from more than 150 companies for more than 4 million parts with COVID-19 applications,” according to Vivki Holt, the company’s CEO.

 

eCommerce: The Mold for Manufacturing’s Future

With digitally enabled teams and supply chains centered around eCommerce, manufacturers can operate at full capacity even during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our eCommerce digital manufacturing model is uniquely positioned to help innovators quickly get their inventions into the hands of doctors and nurses, or to respond to supply chain challenges that must be overcome to meet the needs of the medical community.” Holt said, adding, “Manufacturers are learning pretty quickly that eCommerce can be very efficient and very effective.”

While Protolab’s lean production model relies on 3D printing, injection molding, and fabrication tools, at its core is a strong eCommerce infrastructure. As a result, despite having 90% of non-manufacturing staff at home, Protolabs was able to drive significant YOY growth. The “digital approach to manufacturing enables accelerated time to market, reduces development and production costs, and minimizes risk through the product life cycle,” a spokeswoman said.

 

Ranking Your Digital Strength

If you’re curious what a digitally enabled manufacturing process could do for your company, consider this: Protolab’s total Q1 revenue increased 1.5% year over year to $115 million during the height of the pandemic.

Assessing your warehouse and manufacturing layout may best be achieved when production is low and personnel are sparse. Consider beginning the process while you have the opportunity. Download our Self-Assessment Worksheet to review more than 50 areas ripe for digital innovation. Rank your strengths to find out which growth areas need the most attention and prioritize your transformation needs.

 

 

 

Transformation Focus Areas:

Based on insight from our clients and the broader market, enterprise B2B companies are investing in the following areas. Tap the links to learn more about use cases, success stories, and ideas you can implement today.

 

 

Transformation Focus Areas:

Based on insight from our clients and the broader market, enterprise B2B companies are investing in the following areas. Tap the links to learn more about use cases, success stories, and ideas you can implement today.

 

 

LOCAL
DELIVERY

DECLUTTERING
SYSTEMS

LEAN
PRODUCTION

CENTRALIZING
SYSTEMS

MARKETING
STRATEGY

DECENTRALIZING
SYSTEMS

AUGMENTING
WORK

HYBRID
SYSTEMS

 

 

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