Outsourcing

Buy Versus DIY: It applies to companies too!

Written by: M.G. Rhoads · Illustrated by: Danko Herrera
2020-05-19 ·

If you run in Maker circles, you’ve probably heard the phrase “buy versus DIY.” Basically, should you buy something or figure out how to make it yourself? (Spoiler alert: usually making it yourself is the preferred choice!) The 4 main reasons to DIY for consumer goods … [Read more...] about Buy Versus DIY: It applies to companies too!

Resin Casting the Process Cat Desk Buddy!

Written by: M.G. Rhoads
2020-04-07 ·

A Manufacturing Case Study This is a case study for the process of moving from the design phase of a manufacturing project, through the prototyping and on to the small-scale production method known as resin casting. If you read part 1 of the case study you know that I had … [Read more...] about Resin Casting the Process Cat Desk Buddy!

Interview: Should You Choose Contract Manufacturing?

Written by: M.G. Rhoads
2019-08-13 ·

Here at Process Cat we usually talk about ways to improve your own manufacturing. But, sometimes you’ll want to think about outsourcing, or contract manufacturing. A contract manufacturer is just what it sounds like: a company that manufactures products on a contract … [Read more...] about Interview: Should You Choose Contract Manufacturing?

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Yes, you’ll be much happier if you prevent ergonomics problems BEFORE they bring down your manufacturing line! See, manufacturing ergonomics can be tricky. For common activities like desk work, ergonomics has been widely studied. But the ergonomics of manufacturing processes are usually not as well known. This can lead to problems. Rhonda unfortunately learned this […]

Believe it or not, most maker/manufacturer businesses start out not knowing exactly how much their manufacturing costs! That’s because the calculation isn’t as straightforward as you might assume. Now, if you’re getting something made by a contract manufacturer, of course, you can just get quotes from several companies and go from there. But if you’re […]

Have you heard the term “reshoring” recently and wondered what it was? We’ll cover it now! Reshoring is an idea that’s getting discussed a lot these days in manufacturing circles. Before we talk about reshoring it’s helpful to understand some related terms OFFSHORING AND OUTSOURCING Offshoring is moving manufacturing operations from the country where the […]