Gone are the days when manufacturers used to produce products in large quantities and store them in facilities. Here at Inde Artisans, we have bid adieu to the old production systems that aim at reducing unit cost by producing large quantities. Hence, this blog highlights how we transformed our production system to cater to an on-demand, custom manufacturing model and why so!

What Is Traditional And On-Demand Manufacturing?

Let us run through the basics to understand the differences and needs thoroughly. 

The basic idea of traditional manufacturing is to produce a given number of units within a period. That is to say, the traditional manufacturing model focuses on producing large quantities to reduce the unit cost. They store the excess products in facilities until they sell or distribute them.

On the contrary, the on-demand manufacturing model is a new production system. It makes manufacturing more user-centric. It is also known as custom manufacturing or cloud manufacturing. This model manufactures products as per the needs and requirements. In other words, this model manufactures products only in the quantities required instead of in large numbers. 

Transition To On-Demand Custom Manufacturing

The primary aim of on-demand manufacturing is to maintain customer feedback and deliver products within the shortest period with high quality. Instead of wasting time planning production units, on-demand manufacturing delivers faster. It makes the experience more user-centric, as they keep the customer in touch with their products. On-demand manufacturing is thus also referred to as a “just-in-time” strategy. 

Factors Enabling The Shift From Conventional To On-Demand Manufacturing

The primary factors that help transform conventional manufacturing into an on-demand custom manufacturing model are the Internet and cloud-based technology. Thanks to the fast development of IT and logistics, many manufacturing sectors can make full use of technology to deliver products on demand. Especially during the COVID pandemic, many companies had to adopt a new model due to a shortage of equipment. Therefore, it paved a new route to adopting on-demand manufacturing, making it a natural process.

Recognizing the demands of the dynamic world, Inde Artisans is also committed to providing top-tier products through its shift to a custom clothing manufacturer. Below are some primary factors that helped the transition:

The primary enabler of on-demand manufacturing is cloud-based technology. Custom apparel manufacturers can use cloud-based technology to create advanced online platforms. Picture this: you get to upload 3-D models and designs, and voila! Instant design-for-manufacturing feedback appears. The online platform also becomes a means of communication for us, the manufacturers, and the customer. Hence, a more customer-centric experience. 

On-demand manufacturing has become the future of the fashion industry. Even more for other industries due to CNC machining and 3-D printing. 3-D printing has taken the world by storm as small-scale plants can use their machines more efficiently for on-demand projects. This technology proves particularly valuable for product designers in the prototype phase. It allows them to thoroughly test functionality before diving into custom manufacturing.

Advantages Of On-Demand Manufacturing

The most significant advantage of on-demand production, particularly for custom clothing manufacturers, is that it minimises the amount of energy used in shipping stock that will not get sold. This also means there are no longer seasonal deadlines and no worries about elaborating storage systems.

There is less waste as we produce only stock that is already sold. It helps save the excess product that would otherwise wind up in the landfill. We can now be confident that our products will sell out completely. 

On-demand manufacturing also enables custom manufacturers to generate high-quality products. It keeps both the manufacturer and the client satisfied. 

Endnote

On-demand manufacturing is quickly expanding and transforming manufacturing sectors. At Inde Artisans, we adhere to an on-demand, custom manufacturing model so that all our customers are happy. It has helped us achieve heights with high-end products, organic production, and more ethical and sustainable business practices.