EDITOR ’ S CHOICE LOW-VOLUME MANUFACTURING
HLH PROTOTYPES
James Murphy , co-founder and vice-general manager of HLH Prototypes , looks at the rise of this form of manufacturing
Recent years have highlighted an increasing requirement for low-volume manufacturing , with demand for bespoke products existing throughout the supply chains of many industries .
A defining feature of manufacturing in recent times has been the drastic reduction in product lifecycles . Where mass produced products may previously have had a lifespan of several years , thereby allowing production processes to remain largely unchanged , there is now a trend towards a more bespoke product .
LOW-VOLUME MANUFACTURING In part , this is down to a flourishing R & D ethos throughout supply chains which has seen an overall increase in the frequency of new products . Perhaps more significantly , there has been a shift in consumer behaviour that has permeated into the manufacturing sector .
Demand for customisation and personalisation , particularly from endusers , has meant that manufacturers are increasingly required to be agile and flexible in their production process . In turn , this reduces development time and shortens launch windows , ultimately necessitating a move away from traditional forms of large-scale production .
This is where low-volume manufacturing has an increasingly critical role to play , given its capacity to meet changing demands . Using a range of techniques , from rapid CNC machining through to the latest additive manufacturing ( 3D printing ), low-volume production is an effective way to deliver a more bespoke offering .
It generally deals with batch sizes that range from 1 to 1,000 , and is ideally suited to a short-run of products , or to provide preliminary and test batches in the development of new products . This has an intrinsic link with prototyping applications , but as the market moves towards a more bespoke model , its wider benefits are being brought to the attention of businesses throughout the supply chains of many sectors . Lowvolume production is no longer just part
The other major benefit to low-volume manufacturing is the reduced investment required when compared to mass production .
of the design process , but an integral way of delivering finished parts and products to the market .
SWIFT TURNAROUND AT LOW-RISK INVESTMENT This level of agility within a production environment has advantages that go beyond product customisation . For instance , being able to quickly produce small batches ensures that lead times are kept to a minimum , which is particularly important early in the design process . Frequent alterations to products and their constituent parts are a natural element of the R & D process , as manufacturers strive to achieve the perfect final design . It also means that manufacturers can adapt to emerging and developing trends , beating competitors to market owing to shortened production times . Low-volume manufacturers , such as HLH Prototypes , are adept at navigating lastminute design changes to ensure swift delivery of product that specifically meets a certain specification .
The other major benefit to low-volume manufacturing is the reduced investment required when compared to mass production . With no minimum order quantity , there is less onus on delivering economies of scale . A smaller initial investment for a production run of just 1,000 parts represents a much smaller risk than one for 100,000 parts .
It is also often the case that the initial cost of tooling is lower by virtue of the fact it doesn ’ t need to stand up to the rigours of long-term mass production . Ultimately , this can help to encourage innovation within the manufacturing sector as new solutions are brought to market quicker , and at a lower cost .
34 PECM Issue 50