DigiFabster Case Studies DigiFabster Assists General Pattern in Accelerating Additive Manufacturing Orders

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	DigiFabster Assists General Pattern in Accelerating Additive Manufacturing Orders DigiFabster

DigiFabster Assists General Pattern in Accelerating Additive Manufacturing Orders

DigiFabster

Technology Category	Functional Applications - Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES)
Applicable Industries	Automotive Mining
Applicable Functions	Procurement Quality Assurance
Use Cases	Additive Manufacturing Traffic Monitoring
Services	System Integration Training
Challenge	General Pattern, a prototype, tooling, and rapid manufacturing company, faced a challenge when one of its clients from the consumer products industry required a more efficient, faster, and cost-effective method for creating prototypes and end-use parts than traditional manufacturing methods. The company decided to invest in HP’s Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) 3D printing technology, which led to a surge in orders. This influx of orders necessitated a more efficient way to manage front-end processes like quoting and order entry. General Pattern sought a software solution that was easy to use, minimized staff training, and was familiar with the nuances of HP’s technology to develop accurate and competitive pricing models. Read More
About Customer	General Pattern is a 90-year-old company that specializes in prototyping, tooling, and rapid manufacturing. The company, headquartered in Blaine, Minnesota, initially worked for toy companies like Tonka, Hasbro, and Mattel. However, as the industry shifted, so did General Pattern, focusing on the automotive industry and later diversifying its services for a wide range of clients in various markets. Today, the company has over 150 employees, operates out of twelve facilities, and offers a wide range of capabilities including CNC milling, injection molding, thermoforming, foam molding, and more. Read More
Solution	General Pattern chose DigiFabster's software solution after a demonstration of its capabilities. The company was particularly impressed with the software's ability to quickly create a dedicated intranet page for a specific client and its ease of configuration for pricing. DigiFabster's experience with HP’s technology and its software-as-a-service (SaaS) business model were also key factors in the decision. The software allowed General Pattern to mimic their offline pricing models in almost any scenario. The company quickly invested in and implemented the new online quoting and order entry software solution, tailoring it to their specific needs and communicating this new capability to their customer. Read More Log in to view content
Contents

Technology Category

Functional Applications - Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES)

Applicable Industries

Automotive

Mining

Applicable Functions

Procurement

Quality Assurance

Use Cases

Additive Manufacturing

Traffic Monitoring

Services

System Integration

Training

Challenge

General Pattern, a prototype, tooling, and rapid manufacturing company, faced a challenge when one of its clients from the consumer products industry required a more efficient, faster, and cost-effective method for creating prototypes and end-use parts than traditional manufacturing methods. The company decided to invest in HP’s Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) 3D printing technology, which led to a surge in orders. This influx of orders necessitated a more efficient way to manage front-end processes like quoting and order entry. General Pattern sought a software solution that was easy to use, minimized staff training, and was familiar with the nuances of HP’s technology to develop accurate and competitive pricing models.

About Customer

General Pattern is a 90-year-old company that specializes in prototyping, tooling, and rapid manufacturing. The company, headquartered in Blaine, Minnesota, initially worked for toy companies like Tonka, Hasbro, and Mattel. However, as the industry shifted, so did General Pattern, focusing on the automotive industry and later diversifying its services for a wide range of clients in various markets. Today, the company has over 150 employees, operates out of twelve facilities, and offers a wide range of capabilities including CNC milling, injection molding, thermoforming, foam molding, and more.

Solution

General Pattern chose DigiFabster's software solution after a demonstration of its capabilities. The company was particularly impressed with the software's ability to quickly create a dedicated intranet page for a specific client and its ease of configuration for pricing. DigiFabster's experience with HP’s technology and its software-as-a-service (SaaS) business model were also key factors in the decision. The software allowed General Pattern to mimic their offline pricing models in almost any scenario. The company quickly invested in and implemented the new online quoting and order entry software solution, tailoring it to their specific needs and communicating this new capability to their customer.

Impact #1	The implementation of DigiFabster’s software resulted in significant operational improvements for General Pattern. The software's instant quotation tool allowed the company's customers to upload their files, enter specifications, and receive a quote in real-time. This streamlined process enabled customers to place orders immediately if they were satisfied with the price. The software also automatically checked and repaired any issues with each file before manufacturing, reducing errors and simplifying production. On the back-end, DigiFabster’s software provided a detailed dashboard for General Pattern to manage orders and deadlines. The system also included a customer relationship management (CRM) suite that automatically updated clients regarding job status. The company is now exploring how DigiFabster’s software could impact its CNC milling operations and other areas of their business.

Impact #1

The implementation of DigiFabster’s software resulted in significant operational improvements for General Pattern. The software's instant quotation tool allowed the company's customers to upload their files, enter specifications, and receive a quote in real-time. This streamlined process enabled customers to place orders immediately if they were satisfied with the price. The software also automatically checked and repaired any issues with each file before manufacturing, reducing errors and simplifying production. On the back-end, DigiFabster’s software provided a detailed dashboard for General Pattern to manage orders and deadlines. The system also included a customer relationship management (CRM) suite that automatically updated clients regarding job status. The company is now exploring how DigiFabster’s software could impact its CNC milling operations and other areas of their business.

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Overview

DigiFabster Assists General Pattern in Accelerating Additive Manufacturing Orders

Operational Impact