19MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY INSIGHTSJULY 2024medical industry requires ISO 13485 or FDA registration, which companies need more resources or finance to implement. Contract manufacturers emerge here as a go-to solution to provide these supports efficiently. ARE THERE EMERGING TRENDS YOU HAVE ENCOUNTERED THAT ARE HELPING THE INDUSTRY EVOLVE?One of the emerging trends is the advancement of technology, including artificial intelligence, which has taken over the market by enhancing traditional automation solutions and has resulted in rapid product growth and the customization of new designs. So, being agile has become crucial for Contract Manufacturers and has changed how people approach customization in a repeat-build manufacturing process. Contract Manufacturers need to adapt to the changes in customers' requirements for customization, sustainability practices, digitization, and advanced technology. HAVE YOU BEEN WORKING ON ANY PARTICULAR PROJECTS RECENTLY?Focusing on recent initiatives in the company, ATS is an agnostic contract manufacturing solutions provider. We have delivered several projects that span from 3D printers, mold machines, and athletic sports machines, from lab automation to bioreactor processing systems and logistics/warehousing solutions that require various support levels throughout the product life cycle of every project. We continue to deliver these programs and deliver value by reducing the total cost of ownership using VA/VE (Value Analysis & Value Engineering) techniques. Using VA/VE techniques improves the quality and reduces the cost of the current models while supporting customers with transitions into the following generation of products and models. As our customer install base grows, supporting a large fleet of customer equipment can become challenging. ATS offers global aftersales services and support ranging from spare parts and obsolescence management to service and maintenance support. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE PROMISING FUTURE INVESTMENTS THAT ARE HAVING AN IMPACT ON THE INDUSTRY?There is a growing movement for companies to consider reshoring their manufacturing from overseas operations back to North America, brought on by geopolitical instability and supply chain insecurities. Many customers find a cost advantage when considering the total costs of logistics, quality, and time to market. Contract manufacturers offer an alternative to the high-cost investments required to build or expand their facility, adding resources and implementing quality systems. WHAT WOULD BE THE CRITICAL PIECE OF ADVICE TO YOUR FELLOW PEERS AND ASPIRING YOUNG PROFESSIONALS IN THE OEM EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURING SPACE?Focus on growing your business, expanding your marketplace, and practical R&D efforts to design new products or processes. Consider contract manufacturing as an alternative to lessen the burden of incurring high operational expansion costs and contribute to improving customer experience and sales growth. We bring value to our customers by providing end-to-end manufacturing solutions. As an extension of the customer's operations, we work together as partners to reducing total cost of ownership with a turnkey contract manufacturing production modelThis article is based on an interview between Manufacturing Technology Insights and Joe Darocha.
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