MoldMaking Technology Identifies Four Content Trends in Mold Manufacturing

Through conversations, industry feedback and insight from MMT’s Editorial Advisory Board (EAB), we’ve identified four critical areas of focus for our print, digital, social and event content as we move forward.

Below is a breakdown of the current challenges and ways MMT will address them through upcoming content. And as always, we’d appreciate your feedback and participation—feel free to reach out to me on social media or via email.

1. Workforce Development—Training/education, staffing, lack of qualified tooling engineers, process technicians, etc.; succession planning; diversity, human resources; worker safety; empowering people, culture.

MMT is working on a library of moldmaking 101 content for training/cross-training, distance learning, resources for talent and a focus on marketing readiness to create a sustainable talent pipeline. Also, due to a great response to our 30 Under 30 Honors Program, which recognizes individuals under the age of 30 making a difference in moldmaking, we are making this an ongoing effort to showcase the next generation of talent entering and impacting mold manufacturing.

2. Technology Investment and Deployment—Being skilled in the fundamentals and also being on top of the latest technologies and processes; lack of technology exposure the past year and a half; keeping up with advancements, cost of technology investment/where to invest, generic solutions instead of specialized solutions; machine downtime, maximizing the speed of design and programming, mold maintenance plans.

MMT is developing content focused on specialized solutions for moldmaking; how to engineer a better, more cost-effective mold under the industry 4.0 umbrella, additive manufacturing, maintenance 4.0; more efficient engineering; data handling across the enterprise and supply chain; simulation, optimization; collaboration tools; virtual manufacturing, overall equipment effectiveness tracking, machine monitoring, lights-out machining, automation, AI, IT, cybersecurity.

Interest in MMT’s Technology Showcase section has experienced increased online traffic, so we are also continually refreshing our product release files and encourage technology and service suppliers in the moldmaking community to submit material focused on this niche market by highlighting appropriate features and functions of the products, equipment and services vital to this niche of manufacturing.

3. Managing Customer Demand—Keeping up with customer demands (shorter lead times, expedited delivery and pricing); supply chain issues (material allocation, resins; capacity issues; logistics; machines unable to get fixed, etc.); maintaining quality amid workload and fewer/less skilled workforce; COVID-19 impact continues (search for suppliers on hold, bringing on a new relationship remains difficult, etc.).

MMT is putting together content that examines how to rethink the supply chain, as well as strategies to educate customers on the actual cost of overseas tooling, CRM, diversification opportunities (ability to pivot into the medical, EV market, mobility market, etc.); a deeper look into other states to find new business opportunities vs. end markets/industries; coalitions or collaboratives to stay ahead of the impact of any unexpected disruptions.

When COVID-19 hit, mold manufacturers answered the call by providing quality tooling in record lead times for critical medical products and equipment. To share these amazing stories, we launched our MMT Chat video series, which releases new content every Tuesday.

4. Operational Efficiency—Identifying and fixing bottlenecks; understanding true capacity, COVID-19 impact continues (getting people in to repair machines remains difficult; remote work challenges); cybersecurity; difficulty balancing growth and quality; succession planning; mold builders must be a business first then a shop with a focus on future strategic planning, sales & marketing, human resources, training/workforce development, finance, etc.

MMT has content covering planning, scheduling, better quoting, training; better designs that include standardization, risk assessment, continuous improvement programs; financial matters; and sales & marketing.

Further, MMT’s Leadtime Leader Award continues as the moldmaking industry’s only Award recognizing outstanding performance and innovation within the mold manufacturing community. And NEW for 2022 is the Top Shops Survey coming to MMT as a new benchmarking tool, delivering data to enable mold builders to examine their practices compared to their competition.

MMT will continue addressing these challenges by providing quality content (on business strategies, machining strategies, new equipment purchases, new technologies for engineering and manufacturing, etc.) that helps this mold-building audience get better, be more competitive and be more profitable.