Manufacture Your Way, Not Theirs

One of the primary problems with off-the-shelf manufacturing software is that it requires developers to customize the system to function within a window of manufacturing specifications. Even if successful, the cost of completing such a customization is either very high or leads to an incomplete product. Oftentimes, companies will be told they should change their manufacturing processes to match the systems they’re using, so that their systems will function better. Changing your process to match a software system takes away one of the greatest competitive edges your company has - its own process for doing things. Different industries and different products require unique manufacturing processes, and your software systems should reflect that.

We’ve heard companies being sold on software that will help them manufacture the “SpaceX way”, or will help streamline their factories the “Toyota way”. While both SpaceX and Toyota are successful manufacturing companies, these phrases conceal what made each successful: innovative manufacturing processes for their distinct business models and industries that were matched with tailored systems. It’s not enough to emulate a company, you must ensure your product and business align with the processes you’re implementing.

SpaceX is a rocket company, but they are building high fidelity, relatively low production rockets. Their manufacturing process is therefore set up to ensure that the highest quality of manufacturing is achieved. Alternatively, if a rocket company were building many rockets, their model might focus on consistent mass production. You can use the same comparison with Toyota. Toyota has 19 car models and 5 different brands. Newer car manufacturing startups, such as Tesla or Rivian, can find efficiency in their manufacturing process simply because their constraints are different.

To match their new manufacturing processes, Tesla and SpaceX built a custom manufacturing system called Warp Drive. While it initially started off as a single system between the two companies, it eventually diverged into two different systems because the requirements of rocket manufacturing and car manufacturing have entirely different sets of operating needs. This is an example of ensuring the system you are using is tailored to your manufacturing process, generating additional efficiencies for your business.

At Thruline, we want to turn your special manufacturing process into a system that gives you the tools you need and the competitive advantage required to succeed in your manufacturing industry. Our tailored configurations allow a completely different manufacturing setup for a car manufacturer as a rocket vehicle company, configurable by analysts not coders. More importantly, we want to ensure that your manufacturing process can change as your business changes. We ensure that your workflows are customizable, not hard coded. Adding additional executive levels? Check out how easy our approval process is to change. Adding a new QA process? Edit a workflow to suit your needs. Thruline is here at every step of your manufacturing journey, ensuring that your product and industry is customizable as you scale.

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