AN INDUSTRY SHIFT
On-demand manufacturing is rapidly gaining traction across industries as a way to secure availability of legacy and other low-volume parts. These are often components with unpredictable demand and long lead times, making traditional stockholding inefficient and costly.
For Genuine Makers / OEMs, adopting on-demand can reduce waste and increase responsiveness. The challenge lies in how to access the right capabilities while ensuring every part meets the same rigorous standards as those produced through conventional routes.
The options available to OEMs
Build in-house capabilities
OEM invests in their own AM or CNC equipment, builds a dedicated team, and qualifies processes internally.
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Upside: full control, secure IP environment, integration with internal standards.
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Downside: very high capital cost, steep learning curve, long time-to-market, and limited technology coverage (an OEM won’t invest in every process needed for all parts).
Work directly with individual suppliers
OEM identifies and contracts suppliers case by case.
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Upside: lower immediate investment, flexible access to different technologies.
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Downside: fragmented quality management, inconsistent standards, heavy coordination burden, IP exposure risk.
Use instant-quote platforms
OEM uploads part files to online portals that match them with anonymous suppliers.
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Upside: speed, convenience, quick pricing.
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Downside: lack of transparency, little or no quality assurance, high IP risk, no OEM-first alignment.
Work with a managed partner network (the “partner” option)
OEM works through a partner that provides engineering oversight, qualified suppliers, compliance frameworks, and a structured operating model.
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Upside: access to broad capabilities and materials without heavy capex, reduced risk, built-in quality assurance, and scalability.
There is clear value in choosing the partnership route. Here are the essential considerations when selecting a partner.
1. A neutral approach to process selection
On-demand manufacturing is not a single process, but a suite of technologies from Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) and Laser Powder Bed Fusion, to rapid casting, CNC machining, and more. Each has unique advantages and limitations.
A reliable partner takes a technology-neutral stance. Neutrality ensures every part is matched to the most suitable manufacturing route rather than being forced into the process an individual supplier happens to operate.
2. Protection of intellectual property and OEM standards
Aftermarket parts are both a revenue stream and an extension of an OEM’s brand. Any compromise on data security or customer relationships risks eroding that trust and consequently, revenue.
A trusted partner must therefore operate under clear legal, ethical, and technical safeguards, including:
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Non-disclosure and code-of-conduct compliance across the supplier base, binding every participant to the same standards as the OEM.
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Data masking and controlled access, so suppliers only see the information needed to manufacture the part and never the full portfolio or customer context.
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OEM-first engagement: the partner acts solely as an enabler for IP owners, never bypassing the OEM to reach end users.
3. Engineering oversight and a managed supplier network
One of the greatest hurdles in adopting on-demand manufacturing is supplier management. When working directly with individual suppliers, identifying capable partners, qualifying their processes, and running trials can take years — consuming resources that OEMs could otherwise dedicate to innovation and customer support.
This is where the partnership route becomes superior. A true partner assumes the burden of supplier management, providing OEMs with immediate access to qualified capacity across technologies and regions. With a global and regionally established network, partners give OEMs the agility to produce what is needed, when and where it is needed, without the delays and risks of building supplier relationships one by one.
A partner should therefore provide:
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Independent engineering oversight: every part reviewed for manufacturability, not just priced and quoted.
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Access to a broad, qualified network: reducing the burden of vetting suppliers individually.
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A structured operating model: with communication, quality, and traceability managed under one framework, rather than fragmented across dozens of suppliers.
By consolidating these functions, a partner reduces risk, accelerates adoption, and enables OEMs to scale supply without disrupting existing operations.
4. Quality Assurance Equal to Traditional Routes
On-demand manufacturing doesn’t change what defines quality. Parts must still meet the same requirements as those produced through conventional methods.
The key question for OEMs is whether a prospective partner can demonstrate that these measures are built into their process, not added as an afterthought. Certification and inspection must align with existing OEM specifications and class requirements.
5. Full Traceability from Request to Delivery
Traceability is essential especially for safety-critical environments. A trusted partner should provide:
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End-to-end logging of requirements, manufacturing steps, and test results.
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Digital traceability built into a secure platform, ensuring visibility for repeat orders.
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Documentation aligned with OEM and regulatory standards, so each part is delivered with a complete record.
This strengthens confidence not only in first delivery but also in future repeat production.
For OEMs, on-demand manufacturing offers a smarter way to sustain the availability of critical and legacy parts. But success depends on choosing the right partner.
Speak to our team today about how we can support adoption of on-demand manufacturing in your business.