DigiFabster Assists General Pattern in Accelerating Additive Manufacturing Orders
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
About The 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.
The 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.
The 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.
Operational Impact
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