United Performance Metals’ (UPM) Additive Solutions and Authentise, a pioneer in data-driven workflow tools for additive manufacturing, have announced a revolutionary partnership to introduce the additive manufacturing industry's first Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) solution. This groundbreaking offering transforms material management, traceability, and efficiency for manufacturers.
"At UPM Additive, we are dedicated to delivering innovative solutions and the highest quality materials to our customers," said JJ Johnson, General Manager of UPM Additive Solutions. "The introduction of this VMI solution in partnership with Authentise represents a significant milestone for the additive manufacturing industry, showcasing its increasing maturity and the growing adoption of advanced technologies to streamline production processes, and we're thrilled to be the first to deliver it."
The VMI solution leverages Authentise's advanced technology to deliver comprehensive traceability for critical components such as metal build plates or powders. By tracking the complete history of these objects, manufacturers can guarantee quality, streamline production, and adhere to rigorous industry standards. Furthermore, the solution streamlines inventory management, ensuring that critical materials are always available and minimizing the need for manual intervention.
"We are excited to join forces with United Performance Metals to introduce this transformative solution to the additive manufacturing industry," said Andre Wegner, CEO of Authentise. "VMI is a natural extension of our existing Material Genealogy tools, which already provide detailed traceability record. This extends inventory history beyond materials and outside the walls of the manufacturer. By integrating our expertise in data-driven workflow tools with UPM's extensive knowledge of high-performance metals and tools, we are enabling manufacturers to optimize their operations, reduce costs, and deepen transparency."
The VMI solution also presents significant financial advantages to manufacturers. By allowing consignment stock in the buyer's warehouse, the solution reduces capital requirements and enhances cash flow. This flexibility enables manufacturers to quickly respond to evolving market demands and scale their operations more efficiently.
Beta customers are eagerly anticipating the solution. "Having seen what the new UPM and Authentise VMI solution can do, I3D MFG is thrilled to implement it," said Stephanie Bonfiglio, Director of Integration at I3DMFG. "We look forward to achieving full traceability, automated inventory management, and the agility to scale our production as required. This solution has the potential to revolutionize the way we manage our materials and streamline our additive manufacturing processes. It's essential for any rapidly scaling, industrial additive manufacturing operation such as ours."
For more information about the United Performance Metals and Authentise VMI solution, please visit https://www.authentise.com/solutions/flows/vendor-managed-inventory.
About UPM Additive Solutions
United Performance Metals’ additive facility, UPM Additive Solutions, is a global provider of products and services supporting additive manufacturing partners. We partner with our customers to provide innovative supply chain solutions from feedstock supply to finished part manufacturing. To learn more about how we support the additive manufacturing industry visit www.upmadditive.com.
United Performance Metals (UPM), an O’Neal Industries affiliate company, is a global specialty metals solutions center serving customers in a variety of industries, including aerospace, defense, space, medical, and more.
O’Neal Industries (ONI), is the nation’s largest family-owned network of metals service centers and component and tube manufacturing businesses. Composed of nine leading brands and generating sales of $3.6 billion in 2023, ONI is based in Birmingham, Alabama, and has more than 80 specialized facilities throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. For more information, visit www.onealind.com.
About Authentise
Since starting at Singularity University in 2012, Authentise has focused on providing flexible, data-driven workflows in the most agile manufacturing and engineering settings. Its tools help manage the order to part process by connecting to machines and providing operators with digital tools to enable traceability, repeatability, and efficiency on the shop floor. Initially focused on the additive manufacturing sector, it now has clients across a range of sectors such as Boeing, 3M, and Ricoh, who have seen savings of up to 95% with 6x ROI in the first year.
About I3D MFG
i3DMFG is a premier metal 3D printing production facility, specializing in cutting-edge DMLS (Direct Metal Laser Sintering) technology. With our tribal knowledge within the additive manufacturing industry, we bring a wealth of experience and innovation to every project we undertake. For over a decade, our dedicated team has honed their skills and expertise as a trusted contract manufacturer, consistently delivering exceptional quality and precision in every product we create. At i3DMFG, we are passionate about pushing the boundaries of what is possible in metal 3D printing, ensuring that our clients receive the highest level of craftsmanship and service.