Manufacturers Battling Multiple Foes
There is no lack for challenges facing the manufacturing industry. Molded Dimensions works with customers to face these challenges head-on, though the mission sometimes feels a bit overwhelming. Since it’s Spring, let’s look to baseball for some historical perspective.
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“People, infrastructure and products are the keys to the success of Molded Dimensions,” said Brian Sprinkman in 2021. That continues to be the case as the company added employees and achieved record production volume last year. In the past four months, Molded Dimensions acquired two companies, further expanding its manufacturing capabilities and reach.
Here’s a reflection with Brian Sprinkman.
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Manufacturers have faced a wide range of supply chain issues as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic. Shortages of raw materials, port closures, and shipping delays are a few that have grabbed plenty of headlines. There is little doubt that weaknesses in our global supply chain have been exposed.
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Global supply shortages are a dilemma that is all too real for many manufacturers today. While the COVID-19 pandemic is the undisputed root of the supply chain crisis, the fallout from changes in supply and demand have provided opportunities for some companies and a final death blow to others. Today’s supply chain challenges can be boiled down to these four causes:
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“Failure is success if we learn from it.” — Malcomb Forbes
When a component fails, it is imperative that the root cause of the failure be determined quickly and accurately, and that proper corrective measures be taken in order to prevent future occurrences. When Molded Dimensions is asked to provide an estimate for a part that is not meeting the expectations of a customer, they will request samples of the part and take it through a simple five step process:
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This is the first of two articles about parts that fail and why. Rubber components are generally known for their durability, elasticity, strength, and reliability. However, when subjected to certain conditions, the rubber material is susceptible to fatigue and failure. These can be avoided through proper testing and good chemistry, but if a part does fail to meet your performance expectations, how do you determine why?
Technically, there are a number of possible causes related to a rubber part failure, but three leading indicators would come from knowing the component’s working environment, tolerance for temperatures, and mechanical performance. Let’s look at each area:
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On Feb. 5, the Biden administration announced plans to leverage the Defense Production Act (DPA) to bolster vaccine production, boost the availability of virus tests, and increase the supply of personal protective equipment such as masks, shields and gloves.
So how does this effect the manufacturers of urethane parts such as Molded Dimensions? One of the main polyols used in the manufacturing of urethane is polytetramethylene ether glycol (PTMEG) and it made the DPA list. With the domestic supply of PTMEG already running short, an unanticipated government order created a significant hurdle. This crisis materialized quickly, but a solution seemed quite the opposite.
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Outsourcing parts production overseas may come with some labor cost savings, but the tradeoff in quality, project management and freight are often much more costly. When researching rubber molders around the globe, the considerations need to go beyond just flat cost per part.
To help customers find the best total project cost without sacrificing quality and service, Molded Dimensions offers its exclusive GlocalSource program. Molded Dimensions takes on all the responsibility for quality, logistics and inventory by using qualified partners with lower labor costs in Asia.
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When our company incorporated in 1954 as Robbins Plastics and Rubber, our manufacturing plant was located in Cedarburg and we produced rubber O-rings, tubes and sheets. Our signature rubber and polyurethane custom manufacturing didn’t become part of operations until more than a decade later.
No matter how small the output in those earlier days, there were many good people behind the products being made to help the business succeed.
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Ever since their introduction in the late 1930s, polyurethane has proven to be an extremely valuable material that is adaptable to a wide variety of forms and functions. This versatile elastomer has mechanical properties that can be isolated and manipulated through chemistry for use in foam, liquid or solid products.
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