Industry

Lectra

Date

Insights

The micro-factory: the key to surviving and thriving in an on-demand world

In a world where next-day shipping is a consumer expectation, it’s safe to say that consumers aren’t interested in waiting for weeks or months for products. 

This new consumer climate is challenging brands, retailers and manufacturers to find innovative ways to produce their products.

Speed, agility and personalization are crucial elements to success in today’s on-demand world and only brands who embrace digitalization are able to deliver on these needs. Replacing outdated, manual processes with a micro-factory helps to address the needs of the current consumer climate by reducing the time to

micro factory

What is a micro-factory?

A micro-factory is an end-to-end solution that enables the ability to seamlessly pass data throughout the supply chain, taking you from design to print to cut in no time. With every piece of the supply chain in one place, you can keep your entire production process in-house, saving time and money.

What’s the benefit?

You may be thinking that a micro-factory is expensive and difficult to implement, however, the benefits are endless, the return on investment is high and it’ll be easier to meet consumer demands, aiding in your quest to become a major competitor in your industry.  

From weeks and months to hours and days

Switching to a micro-factory can drastically reduce development times.The streamlined workflow seamlessly passes data from one part of the supply chain to the next, eliminating errors and the need for manual entry.

Give the people what they want

The implementation of a micro-factory facilitates on-demand manufacturing. With the ability to produce products quickly, manufacturers can begin the production process after the order has been received and paid for, allowing for more customization and personalization.

A more sustainable alternative

Long gone are the days of mass producing products only to be left over with unsold items. On-demand manufacturing not only enables customization but it also eliminates an excess of product through the ability to produce items in smaller batches. Implementation of software also helps to address inefficiencies and reduce material waste, enabling you to become more environmentally sustainable.

Create unique digital prints.

As digital printing grows rapidly in the textile industry, it’s important for companies to look for ways to make the print-to-cut process quick and simple. By implementing a micro-factory, designs are able to be passed from printer to the cutter seamlessly.

Embrace the Need for Digitalization

Brands, retailers and manufacturers who rely on a micro-factory for production are able to easily keep up with the challenging consumer demands. Those who embrace digitalization are significantly more successful than those who are still relying on traditional production processes.