Situation
Bending Branches, LLC opted to update and improve one of its production lines in late 2014 and turned to University of Wisconsin-Stout Manufacturing Outreach Center (MOC) for help. The project goal was to identify an alternative decorating technology for one of Bending Branches' faster-growing products.
Solution
To do so, the MOC Technology Scouting team first listened carefully to Bending Branches' priorities, goals and concerns and then began researching existing technologies capable of meeting the company's needs. The team conducted an extensive in-depth study to identify potential solutions, spoke directly with providers throughout the United States and across the globe, and sent production component samples to several companies in order to verify claims.
MOC findings were presented to Bending Branches in March 2015. Ten technologies, including the final recommended decorating process, were evaluated for pros and cons of quality, production time, production flow, required skill level and estimated cost. Research data and conversations were captured in an electronic "MindMap" which allows Bending Branches to revisit discussions, trace outcomes and see information used to support the decision-making process.
Results
Bending Branches, LLC is currently weighing these options, and although the new process has not been implemented, these technologies offer the company the potential to:
- Significantly reduce inventory requirements
- Streamline operation to a rapid, single-piece flow
- Improve flexibility and customization capability
- Eliminate one step of the current production process
