UPM Additive Solutions and Authentise Develop Vendor Managed Inventory Solution for Additive Manufacturing

United Performance Metals’ (UPM) Additive Solutions and Authentise have collaborated to create a Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) solution for the additive manufacturing (AM). This offering is designed to transform material management, traceability and efficiency for manufacturers.

“At UPM Additive, we are dedicated to delivering innovative solutions and the highest quality materials to our customers,” says JJ Johnson, UPM Additive Solutions general manager. “The introduction of this VMI solution in partnership with Authentise represents a significant milestone for the additive manufacturing industry, showcasing its increasing maturity and the growing adoption of advanced technologies to streamline production processes."

The VMI solution leverages Authentise’s advanced technology to deliver comprehensive traceability for critical components such as metal build plates or powders. By tracking the complete history of these objects, manufacturers can guarantee quality, streamline production and adhere to rigorous industry standards. Furthermore, the solution streamlines inventory management, ensuring that critical materials are always available and minimizing the need for manual intervention.

“We are excited to join forces with United Performance Metals to introduce this transformative solution to the additive manufacturing industry,” says Andre Wegner, Authentise CEO. “VMI is a natural extension of our existing Material Genealogy tools, which already provide detailed traceability record. This extends inventory history beyond materials and outside the walls of the manufacturer. By integrating our expertise in data-driven workflow tools with UPM’s extensive knowledge of high-performance metals and tools, we are enabling manufacturers to optimize their operations, reduce costs and deepen transparency.”

The VMI solution also presents significant financial advantages to manufacturers. By enabling consignment stock in the buyer’s warehouse, the solution reduces capital requirements and enhances cash flow. This flexibility enables manufacturers to quickly respond to evolving market demands and scale their operations more efficiently.

Beta customers are eagerly anticipating the solution. “Having seen what the new UPM and Authentise VMI solution can do, I3DMFG is thrilled to implement it,” says Stephanie Bonfiglio, Director of Integration at I3DMFG. “We look forward to achieving full traceability, automated inventory management and the agility to scale our production as required. This solution has the potential to revolutionize the way we manage our materials and streamline our additive manufacturing processes. It's essential for any rapidly scaling, industrial additive manufacturing operation such as ours.”