Supply chain is dominating the news. Demand is soaring, ports are backed up, container prices are soaring, shipping costs are skyrocketing, warehouses are full, and manufacturers are experiencing extended lead times across the board.

Make sure to register for the Dec. 8, 2021 webinar where Lisa Anderson will be discussing the supply chain as we head into 2022.

The end-to-end supply chain challenges are exacerbated with the great resignation of people. Unfortunately, these issues are not going away anytime soon. We will talk about the current state of the supply chain, and more importantly, what executives should be doing to survive – and thrive – during these volatile times.

• Strategies to retain, develop and attract talent during the great resignation
• The regionalization of manufacturing and the great migration back to local
• Digitization of the supply chain and turning data into insights
• The resilient supply chain and how Sales, Inventory & Operations Planning (SIOP) can help you scale and serve customers
• Innovate to thrive

This month, Master Fluid Solutions is proud to celebrate its 70th anniversary. Since 1951, the company has been redefining productivity in the manufacturing industry, utilizing metalworking fluids as a means to drastically increase productivity, reduce costs, and improve sustainability. From humble beginnings as a small, family-owned operation in Ohio, MasterFluid Solutions has expanded into a global company with offices and production sites across three continents while maintaining a close-knit family culture.

Founder Clyde A. Sluhan created the company to revolutionize efficiency and sustainability in manufacturing through metalworking fluids. With a background in industrial chemistry, he tested more than 3,000 coolant formulations before perfecting the first TRIM cutting fluid and bringing it to market in 1951. Then, he officially co-founded Master Fluid Solutions with his wife, Marian, and began production in Toledo, OH. After establishing a presence, he expanded the company beyond manufacturing and sales to product support and customer education, helping each client get the most out of their fluid through proper management. 

In 1971, before any other metalworking fluid manufacturer was thinking about conservation or sustainability, MFS revolutionized the industry with the first XYBEX coolant recycling system. The system supported customers to achieve their environmental initiatives, and in some cases, reduce their fluid waste by up to 80%. This type of recycling process has since become industry standard. MFS continues to formulate products that are robust enough to handle recycling operations and maintain performance.

“We are thrilled by the progress our company has made over the past 70 years, as well as the advancements in metalworking we have helped drive in that time,” says CEO Dean Froney. “As we enter 2022, we are eager to increase our commitments to sustainability and build the eco-friendly manufacturing environment of the future.”

In honor of the company’s 70th anniversary, Congressman Bob Latta introduced a proclamation congratulating and commending MFS for their leadership in scientific research and commitment to sustainability. The Mayor of Perrysburg, OH, issued an additional proclamation recognizing MFS’ commitment to workers, safety, and quality.

IGS GeboJagema designs, manufactures, and validates high-precision molds for applications such as contact lenses, asthma inhalers, insulin pens, and blood-diagnostic devices. Over the past two decades, the Dutch company has become a strategic partner for large OEMs and top healthcare companies worldwide. The key, according to CEO Peter Mertens, is IGS GeboJagema’s unrivalled engineering expertise combined with their experience working closely with medical OEMs early in the product life cycle.

“Based in the heart of the most prominent technology hub of Europe, we have been able to assemble a team of world-class engineers,” Mertens explains. “Through their ambition and creativity, we develop cutting-edge and highly reliable molding solutions that give our clients an edge over their competitors.”

© IGS GeboJagema | https://www.igsgebojagema.nl

Thanks to the company’s focus on innovation, more and more leading industry players rely on the company’s engineering power in the development of new OEM products.

“To give an example, we are currently involved in all major strategic insulin pen projects,” Mertens says. “We like to partner with our clients as early as possible, so we can make the biggest impact. Whether it’s product design, or a smart mold solution that no one else can offer, we optimize every aspect of the manufacturing process to realize the lowest Total Cost of Ownership possible.”

One major player in the healthcare market states: “IGS GeboJagema has enabled our business to grow 10x over the past 25 years.” They specifically point to the Dutch company’s drive to innovate as having made the difference. “We would not have been successful if IGS had simply delivered the common, standard fare goods. The suite of mold hardware we developed together reduces costs, improves delivery time, and requires less maintenance and toolroom support. Our IGS molds are considered the gold standard within our company’s manufacturing arena.”

IGS GeboJagema’s US subsidiary will be based in Washington D.C. Initially, it will focus on providing faster and more convenient sales and service support to the company’s North-American client base. IGS GeboJagema USA will be launched at MD&M East on December 7, where the company will exhibit at booth 746.

Manufacturing and Supply Chain Expert, Lisa Anderson, MBA, CSCP, CLTD, President of LMA Consulting Group Inc., predicts that supply chain disruption will continue well beyond 2024. LMA Consulting Group works with manufacturers and distributors on strategy and end-to-end supply chain transformation to maximize the customer experience and enable profitable, scalable, dramatic business growth.

“The supply chain disruption is real and will last for quite some time,” Anderson comments. Every supply chain is a complex set of connections that spans from the supplier’s suppliers to product or service accessibility for the end-user. “Let’s look at the ‘why’ of the disruption. If you remove industry nuances, there are three main causes of the disruption. The first cause is labor. The pandemic exacerbated the ongoing drain of skilled boomer workers, many of whom took early retirement. The pandemic also caused workers to reassess their priorities. That resulted in people deciding that they didn’t like their industry or job or their boss. This has manifested into what many are calling the Great Resignation,” Anderson says.

Labor shortages exist in almost every industry and position.

“Manufacturing, transportation, distribution, none of these industries are exempt. And, most of these industries affect the consumer, who has felt the supply chain pinch the worst,” she adds.

Make sure to register for the Dec. 8, 2021 webinar where Lisa Anderson will be discussing the supply chain as we head into 2022.

 The second reason for supply chain disruption is misalignment.

“The pandemic caused a shift in demand. When people experienced an out-of-stock, they found new products that were either similar or better. This shift caused a supply chain misalignment: having the wrong products in the wrong places at the wrong time. So, even when the original products were in place, the demand was no longer there because it had shifted,” she says.

The most expensive reason for supply chain disruptions is equipment. “There is a shortage of equipment in all sectors. This includes chassis used to off-load trailers from ships. Trucks are in short supply, and laws are requiring equipment upgrades. Medical device equipment, farming and construction equipment, food processing equipment and equipment needed for technological upgrades are all in short supply,” Anderson notes.

“It all comes down to creating a never-ending supply chain circle, almost like the supply chain is chasing its proverbial tail. I don’t see that this is easily solvable by initiating new laws or enticing workers with more money. Sure, it can help, but it’s not an easy fix. It will take recognizing that there may be no new normal. Essentially, the supply chain will be in a constant state of evolution. The successful manufacturers will be adaptive, resilient and forward-thinking as they respond to changes in demand and recognize an ever-evolving supply chain,” she concludes.