Why WAZP’s On-Demand Manufacturing Solutions Win Large Customers Like IKEA

As companies scramble to improve the resilience of their supply chains, many are resorting to boosting the size of their inventory – reflecting a “just-in-case” rather than “just-in-time” approach. This is an understandable reaction, but it is also costly, and unlikely to be sustainable. Companies have access to better strategies.

Founded in 2014 in Ireland by Shane Hassett and Mariana Kobal, WAZP offers end-to-end global supply chain solutions to both large corporations and small and medium enterprises.

WAZP’s strategy rests on three pillars:

1.    Decentralization of manufacturing. WAZP relies on its global network of strategically located production facilities to help customers meet demand faster and at lower cost. Having access to manufacturing facilities across the world, customer companies can save on transport costs and import duties, introduce new products in selected markets more rapidly, and at the same time support jobs in their target markets. Geographical diversification also provides more flexibility and reduces exposure to shocks, from trade tensions to disruptions in transportation. Here WAZP has been ahead of the curve in charting the current trend towards greater localization. Manufacturing is entirely done through 3D printing (also known as additive manufacturing).

2.    Digitization. To make fast, geographically dispersed production possible, WAZP creates a digital library of products that can be assessed, tested and redesigned as needed before being put into production in the location of choice. Digitization also enables faster product innovation.

3.    Demand-driven production. The flexibility provided by digitization and decentralization allows companies to manufacture products as the orders come in, reducing or even eliminating the need for inventory.

The potential benefits of this approach for WAZP’s customers are very significant: they can react faster to customers’ demand, minimize the need for inventory, reduce transport costs and vulnerability to a number of supply-chain shocks.

Making actual product manufacturing more aligned to demand also greatly reduces the risk of overproducing or underproducing. This translates into efficiency, but it also boosts sustainability – a benefit compounded by the reduction in transport distance and time.

Of course, it remains essential to monitor the availability of manufacturing inputs and materials in the manufacturing location of choice – if we have learnt one thing during the recent wave of disruptions it’s that the complexity of supply chains can cause unexpected shocks, and it’s therefore extremely important to assess and monitor different potential points of vulnerability.

According to WAZP CEO Shane Hassett “Consumers are driving a sea-change in how we interact with our products and our supply chains. Global supply chain concerns are forcing businesses to look at alternative solutions. These factors call for agile and resilient solutions that are enabled by decentralized manufacturing, digitization of products, and demand-driven production. WAZP is committed to these principles and has found a world ready to accept this change for the better. Better for consumers, better for businesses, better for local economies, and better for the environment.”

WAZP offers support to customers through all phases of the process, starting with product design: they can help turn a sketch into technical drawings, simulate the key technical characteristics and measure key surface properties like roughness and gloss. This can be especially valuable for smaller companies; small and medium enterprises also benefit from the ability to produce in relatively small batches when needed, thanks to the flexibility of the digitization and decentralization model.

WAZP’s flexible and decentralized approach to supply chains and manufacturing has also attracted some very large customers: it helped develop and launch IKEA’s first mass-produced 3D printing product, and orders from the Swedish company have been coming fast and ahead of expectations.

The world is changing faster than ever and this version of a manufacturing supply chain, that embraces new digital manufacturing technology (3D Printing), reduces the length of supply chains and delivers an on-demand direct-to-consumer (D2C) solution will be a big part of the future.