material.one Infographic

Continuous material improvement through supplier networking

The material.one platform supports manufacturers with continuous material improvement through supply chain collaboration. It enables supplier networking and automation in the modern manufacturing industry, especially for OEMs. With material.one, processes are simplified, accelerated, and costs are reduced at the same time. The infographic below illustrates the process cycle and the cooperation between the players involved.  Below the infographic you will find a description of the individual process steps and the unique features and benefits of using material.one for the network.

  • It all starts when an original equipment manufacturer, also known as an OEM, defines an exact specification for a material to be used in new products. This specification is uploaded to material.one where it is visible to all accessible partners. This specification includes all required physical, chemical, and functional properties of the material.

  • Once the specification has been published, material manufacturers begin developing the material. This process involves extensive research and development to create a material that meets the specific requirements. The developed material is then subjected to rigorous testing at both internal and external laboratories to ensure its suitability. The results of these tests are documented on material.one and made available to the OEM for review.

  • As soon as the material has successfully passed the required tests, the OEM checks the results. If the evaluation is positive, the material is officially released on material.one so that it can be used for production. This approval is a critical milestone in the material development process.

  • The next phase begins with the release of the material. Component designers access material.one, search for the approved materials in a specialized database and integrate them into the 3D models of the components to be developed. This integration is crucial for adapting the design to the material characteristics.

  • The developed components are now described in detail, including the exact dimensions, tolerances, material, and processing instructions. These descriptions are essential for quality assurance and preparation for component testing.Manufacturing continues along the supply chain, with Tier 2 and other sub-tier suppliers (through Tier n) contributing specific parts or services required to complete the final product. These tiers may include specialty components, finishing work, or assembly steps.

  • Production of the first production-ready parts begins at the Tier 1 suppliers, who usually produce the main components or systems for the OEM. They use the approved new materials and follow the part description to manufacture the parts. Every step, from manufacturing to final testing of these parts, is carefully monitored and the results are documented on material-one for the OEM. This initial production is essential to validate the practicality of the new material in real applications.

  • Manufacturing continues throughout the supply chain, with Tier 2 and other sub-tier suppliers (through Tier n) contributing specific parts or services required to complete the final product. These tiers may include specialty components, finishing work or assembly steps.

  • The Tier 1 supplier releases the test results of its supply chain, i.e. of all sub-suppliers involved, to the OEM for inspection on material.one.

  • Once the components have been manufactured and tested, the OEM must officially approve them. To do this, the OEM analyzes the documentation and test results, supported by material.one, to ensure that the components meet the requirements and are suitable for integration into the end product. If satisfied with the quality and performance, the OEM releases the parts for series production (SoP).

  • In the final step of the process cycle, a continuous analysis is carried out by collecting data from sampling (Digital PPAP and Digital PPA), production and actual use in the field. The aim of these analyses is to identify areas for potential improvement in order to optimize the material and component development processes in the next cycle. All aspects of the process are considered, from material procurement to production, in order to continuously improve efficiency, costs, and quality. The collected data and analysis is shared via material-one to improve future material specifications, minimize errors and enable a continuous improvement process.