Latest news with #Fictiv
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Borderlands Mexico: Businesses face supply chain hurdles amid Trump's tariffs
Borderlands Mexico is a weekly rundown of developments in the world of United States-Mexico cross-border trucking and trade. This week: Businesses face supply chain hurdles amid Trump's tariffs; Japanese auto parts maker announces $19M expansion in Mexico; Aerospace manufacturer opens $7M plant in Chihuahua City; and Radiant Logistics acquires Texas freight forwarder. Shippers trying to get goods into the U.S. are grappling with their logistics chains as President Donald Trump's tariff agenda has created uncertainty across manufacturing sectors, says Vinny Licata, head of logistics at Fictiv. Fictiv is a San Francisco-based global operation for custom manufacturing that has production facilities in the U.S, Mexico, India and China. 'There is a lot of uncertainty and a lot of people are not sure how to proceed,' Licata told FreightWaves in an interview. 'Everybody is looking for guidance. We're seeing these rates change. Then, all of a sudden you have a tariff for aluminum and steel, and then we're seeing IEEPA [International Emergency Economic Powers Act] tariffs, then tariffs on automobiles. … Clients are seeking not only the guidance of what tariffs do we have today, but how we navigate these tariffs.'Trump said his broad tariff policy is part of his America First economic agenda, which aims to bring more manufacturing back to the U.S. The administration launched its broad 'reciprocal' tariff plan for about 90 U.S. trade partners April 2, including a baseline 10% tariff on trade partners, as well as 25% tariffs on certain imported vehicles and auto parts. The U.S. also has 25% import duties on all foreign steel and aluminum. Trump has also used illegal immigration and drug trafficking as reasons to impose tariffs on trade partners such as China, Canada and Thursday, he announced a trade agreement with the United Kingdom that includes tariff exemptions for a number of imported U.K.-manufactured vehicles, as well as elimination of 25% tariffs currently imposed on British steel and aluminum exports. Licata said his company is seeing customers finding mistakes in their customs paperwork when trying to apply for tariff exemptions. 'We've been on calls with customers to try to understand, 'How do we best navigate this?'' Licata said. 'Sometimes they're getting their brokers who are even making mistakes on some of their imports. They're tariffing the Section 232 and IEEPA tariff. And really, in certain situations, maybe only one applies.' Fictiv has been hearing from customers across different sectors, from HVAC companies to businesses 'growing strawberries indoors,' Licata said. 'All these different companies, they have different needs; they're bringing products in from different areas,' he said. Most companies will be best served by remaining focused on longer-term supply chain resilience and agility, instead of just trying to reduce the tariff impact of individual shipments, he said. 'Don't focus on the tariff percentage. I know there's some really big percentages, but we're really trying to make sure we look at the total landed cost,' Licata said. 'Labor has an impact. The tariff rate has an impact. There's a lot of different things. We're telling customers to look at the network. There could be opportunities for us to try to mitigate some of that impact with some other ways inside of the network.' Officials at Fictiv also remain bullish on Mexico's growth as a trade partner with the was the top U.S. trade partner last year, totaling a record-breaking $840 billion in two-way commerce. For the first two months of 2025, Mexico has retained its No. 1 ranking, with cross-border trade totaling $138 billion. 'I know Mexico is kind of taking a wait-and-see approach with the [Trump] administration, which seems to be working better than some of the other aggressive tactics we've seen from other countries,' Licata said. 'I think Mexico for the rest of the year is not in a bad place. I think there's an opportunity to be able to manufacture there and be a viable option.' SK Tec said it plans to invest $19 million to expand its existing factory in the Mexican municipality of Irapuato. Libia Denise Ledo, governor of the Mexican state of Guanajuato, made the announcement on social media on Thursday. The facility's expansion will create 80 jobs producing auto parts for OEM clients such as Toyota, Nissan and Honda. The company did not provide a timeline for the opening of the facility. Japan-based SK Tec opened its factory in Irapuato in 2013, with investments totaling more than $320 million. The facility employs 1,700 workers. The Safran Group has opened its 12th plant in Chihuahua City, Mexico. The $7 million facility will create around 225 jobs and manufacture aerospace components, such as slides, evacuation rafts and other supplies, according to a news release. Paris-based Safran Group is one of the largest aerospace companies in the world, building airplane engines and manufacturing other airplane equipment. Safran is Mexico's largest aerospace employer, with 20 total factories employing more than 14,000 employees across the country. In addition to Chihuahua City, Safran has eight factories in Querataro. Radiant Logistics has acquired ocean and airfreight forwarder Universal Logistics Inc. Universal Logistics, based in Houston, specializes in time-sensitive domestic and international air and ocean freight for the oilfield services and HVAC industries. The company has been operating under the Airgroup brand since 2001. On closing, Universal will continue to operate under the Airgroup brand as it transitions to the Radiant brand. Universal's Houston's operations will combine with existing Radiant operations in the area. Terms of the transaction, announced Monday, were not Washington-based Radiant Logistics (NYSE: RLGT) is a third-party logistics provider in the U.S. and Canada. The post Borderlands Mexico: Businesses face supply chain hurdles amid Trump's tariffs appeared first on FreightWaves. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Forbes
30-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
What Is The State Of Manufacturing & Supply Chain In 2025?
Fictiv's 2025 State of Manufacturing & Supply Chain Report This month, I'm excited to share the results of Fictiv's 10th Annual State of Manufacturing & Supply Chain Report. Every year, we survey hundreds of supply chain and manufacturing leaders across multiple industries to understand their perspectives, challenges, and predictions for 2025. I'm especially excited to dive into the broader supply chain results, particularly in a year marked by massive tariff and trade disruptions. Our first findings concern business uncertainty. With the shift in the U.S. President's trade policies, almost 100% say they're concerned that trade wars are likely to escalate in the next few years (clearly demonstrated by widespread global tariffs). Key Findings 96% of manufacturing leaders report they're concerned about the impact of the U.S. President's trade policies. 93% believe trade wars will likely escalate in the next few years, whereas 42% are now 'very concerned' —a 6-point increase over 2024. 91% note that global tensions are being considered in their company's long-term supply chain strategy—a 5-point increase over 2024. Growing global business uncertainty Looking at this chart, it's clear senior leaders are concerned about tariffs, particularly the impacts on costs and profitability, as well as global business. As a result, many are planning to increase manufacturing in the U.S. The next key finding is around accelerating supply chain disruptions. Across the board, executives are saying they need to accelerate how they manage their supply chain. Two-thirds or 68% said that onshoring is a key priority this year for their teams. Key Findings 68% of leaders prioritize onshoring as a key supply chain strategy in 2025, especially in industries needing complex parts at scale, like MedTech, clean energy, and EVs. 77% report a lack of resources (e.g., workforce, budget) severely limits their ability to manage their supply chains effectively (an increase over 2024). 52% of manufacturing leaders identify supplier quality, reliability, and compliance as significant challenges. Accelerating supply chain disruptions On the flip side, three-quarters, or 77%, say they lack the resources to effectively manage their supply chain as it is today. This is difficult given that leaders also say they want to onshore their supply chain. If supply chain resources are already limited, moving back to the U.S. will be a challenge. 50% are also saying that quality and reliability are significant challenges. Some are running well-performing supply chains, while another half are running inadequate supply chains. Our third major finding is around scaling production. In my opinion, this has been the most difficult it's ever been. What you see here is 91% say they're facing barriers to innovation. In other words, they're struggling to find high-quality supply chain partners to do low-volume builds. Key Findings 91% of manufacturing and supply chain leaders face barriers to product innovation and introduction, with nearly half struggling to source fast, high-quality solutions for low-volume builds. 86% report sourcing parts and materials takes time away from initiatives like new product innovation and introduction, making it increasingly difficult to move into and scale production. 90% of leaders consistently report that digital manufacturing platforms are an essential service for production (up from 86% in 2024). Scaling production more difficult than ever Secondly, almost 90% are saying that all the work required to source parts is taking away from innovation. In other words, you're launching a new product, and sourcing has become the bottleneck, the long pole on the tent. This makes driving innovation to build electric vehicles, rockets, and surgical equipment incredibly difficult—stalling the innovations of tomorrow. In the 10 years we've been doing this report, we've consistently seen this trend. Executives are looking to digitize supply chains. This continues to be a key focus area and it's even up from the 86% that we saw last year. So my takeaway is that for teams that are scaling new products, and moving into production, you have to think about this as another phase of development. You have development that happens by building prototype one. Getting it in the market is the next and most difficult step. Key Findings 95% report weather and extreme climate events are impacting their supply chain strategy in 2025. 91% now have sustainability initiatives and governance in place to help drive sustainability goals. 52% believe nearshoring and onshoring strategies are critical to supporting sustainability efforts. Sustainability takes hold The fourth finding centers around sustainability. This continues to be a major focus for our audience. As we know at the macro level, we've seen massive fires in California, floods and tsunamis globally, and hurricanes. These weather and extreme climate events are impacting supply chains around the world, and no industry is protected. It's heartening to see that 91% now have sustainability initiatives and some type of governance in place, an increase from previous years. ESG has been a clear focus area for many executives and supply chain teams. However, this year, with 91% saying they have actual governance in place to do a triple bottom line, that's really encouraging to me. We're seeing sustainability as a large driver and metric for consideration in supply chains. And lastly, nearshoring and onshoring are critical to supporting sustainability efforts. So nearshoring might not necessarily be a pure climate or sustainability play. There are other factors like economics, and geopolitical factors in play here. We thought this was an interesting takeaway. It's not just about reducing the carbon emissions by being closer to your customer, there are multiple considerations when nearshoring but excited to see this continue to be top of mind in our 10th Annual State of Manufacturing and Supply Chain Report. And you can't have a report on the state of manufacturing in 2025 without AI. AI is the top trend shaping their long-term strategy, whether it's the latest, greatest LLMs or looking at augmenting human tasks, AI is at the forefront of our customers' minds. Key Findings 87% of leaders report advanced levels of maturity with their company's AI implementations. 94% use AI for manufacturing and supply chain operations, such as inventory management and product design. 56% of Manufacturing and supply chain leaders identify AI as the leading trend shaping their long-term strategy, with economic headwinds following at 53%. AI advances Also, 87% report advanced levels of maturity in implementing AI. Almost 100% say their teams are getting better at using it for day-to-day tasks. I personally use it every single day, and I encourage all of our employees, partners, and customers to look at the ways that AI can help bring efficiencies to their work. 94% are saying that AI for manufacturing and supply chain operations is their main implementation, whether it's inventory management, product design, research, or supplier development. One of the best implementations that I saw was all around SCARS, so Corrective Action Reports and using it to help automate the process of managing supply chains. There are a lot of great applications and agentic products out there, and I would really encourage you to look at this to streamline your operations. If you don't do it, your competition will. I think that while AI is here and will cause a lot of disruption, I think there are multiple factors to consider. So make sure you're figuring out how to implement it, implement it well, and use it daily, but it's not necessarily the silver bullet to solve all supply chain challenges. Here are a few useful takeaways from the report for your consideration: To download the full report, please go here. You can also watch an in-depth webinar discussion with Fictiv's General Managers of China, India, Mexico, and the U.S.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Fictiv acquired for $350M by Japanese components supplier
San Francisco-based Fictiv has been acquired by Misumi Group Inc. in an all-cash deal worth $350 million. The acquisition will help Misumi Group expand its digital services and expand its customer base, officials said. Tokyo-based Misumi Group is one of the largest global industrial suppliers of off-the-shelf manufacturing components. The company has 22 manufacturing sites and 20 logistics facilities around the world, producing and distributing industrial supplies to 318,000 global companies. 'The aim of this acquisition is to enhance our digital services … while concurrently expanding our customer domain,' the company said in a news release. 'By acquiring Fictiv, we will rapidly increase the value we provide from the traditional realm of production equipment to the upstream area of product development within the value chain.'Misumi Group's U.S. locations include a supplier network called Sugura USA, with facilities in Addison, Illinois, along with distribution centers in Chicago and Torrance, California. Fictiv, founded in 2013, offers on-demand procurement services for custom mechanical components parts for the U.S. manufacturing industry. The company has production operations in the U.S., China, India and Mexico, with a total of 400 employees. Fictiv has produced over 35 million commercial and prototype components to date and also has a global partner network of 250 manufacturing partners worldwide. In November 2023, Fictiv opened a production facility in Monterrey, Mexico, aiming to offer more options for on-demand manufacturing services across North America.'This agreement marks a major milestone for Fictiv and the broader manufacturing ecosystem. Misumi's investment validates the power of AI-driven supply chain innovation and our shared vision to make manufacturing more accessible, intelligent, and scalable,' Dave Evans, Fictiv's co-founder and CEO, said in a statement. 'Together, we're building a global platform that helps engineering and supply chain teams bring ideas to life faster and more efficiently than ever before.' The post Fictiv acquired for $350M by Japanese components supplier appeared first on FreightWaves.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bringing an AI boost to additive manufacturing
This story was originally published on Manufacturing Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Manufacturing Dive newsletter. The global additive manufacturing industry was valued at over $20 billion in 2023. Additive manufacturing is slated to grow rapidly as companies use AI to experiment with designs, make the production process more efficient, increase accuracy and streamline supply chains. From initial design and simulation to real-time quality control, AI is boosting productivity and profitability, fueling innovation and addressing critical skills shortages in the manufacturing sector. The additive manufacturing process goes through various stages, including part design, the creation of machine instructions for printing, process parameter development and testing of the manufactured part, said Nikhil Gupta, a mechanical and aerospace engineering professor at New York University. Companies are now embedding AI into each step of this process. Generative AI algorithms can design components that are up to 30% to 70% lighter than traditionally produced parts, without compromising strength. Optical and thermal cameras integrated into industrial 3D printers can also capture real-time data used to analyze and detect quality discrepancies as they occur, Gupta added. This has revolutionized additive manufacturing by making tasks that were once nearly impossible due to their time and resource intensity much more feasible and cost-effective through AI. For instance, most industrial-grade 3D printers have cameras that capture each layer of a part as it is being printed. Complex parts print in thousands of layers over a period of days, which makes manual, real-time human inspection for defects or anomalies neither possible nor cost efficient, Gupta said. 'AI algorithms are being trained to automatically detect anomalies in the print layer and flag them for further inspection,' he added. 'Detection of a defect as it originates provides the possibility to intervene to fix it and not waste the time and material already spent.' AI can optimize the process by analyzing real-time sensor data and make changes before going into production. This can help ensure parts meet exact specifications, a capability crucial for high-precision industries such as medical devices and aerospace, said Robbie Long, product marketing manager at Fictiv. Fictiv has developed a assistant, which is integrated into the company's digital manufacturing platform and allows engineers to compare material options best suited for their production needs. Powered by ChatGPT, the tool lets manufacturers ask questions about which materials or processes they should use for their 3D printing product, Long said. For example, manufacturers can compare the most heat-resistance or cost-effective materials and make informed decisions without spending a fortune on trial and error. In addition to design, production, and quality control, manufacturers are implementing AI for more complex processes, pushing the boundaries of what has been possible so far. 'Manufacturers can run their plant data in an AI model for scenario planning – giving them the ability to test multiple functions of additive manufacturing in a digital environment before investing in the real thing,' said Tim Gaus, smart manufacturing business leader at Deloitte. It can function like a digital twin for rapid prototyping and simulations. Another application is agentic AI for tool clearances. Tool clearances require manufacturers to ensure that the space for tools is included in their computer-aided design when going from digital to physical product iterations, Gaus said. 'To save manufacturers the time of manually undergoing this process, some have created AI agents that review the CAD model and assess whether the included tooling clearances are sufficient," Gaus added. The AI agent will flag if it detects an issue with the clearances and recommends solutions to remedy the problem. A key area enhanced by AI is maintenance. 'AI models can be trained on the machine's manuals, historical and current operational data, and failure codes to provide maintenance crews with recommendations on how to fix potential problems, ultimately taking on the responsibility of maintaining these,' Gaus said. Using AI in additive manufacturing also accelerates the jobs of product and industrial engineers by decreasing the time it takes to design and run a product, Gaus added. 'It allows for more flexible, on-demand production, meaning workers can avoid burning time on large-scale repetitive tasks and instead focus on more customized production runs," he said. Because integrating AI in additive manufacturing simplifies otherwise complex tasks, it has opened the door for workers at all levels to participate in the process. Companies like Backflip AI have built tools that let someone take an idea — a drawing, sketch, photo or text — and in one click turn it into a highly detailed 3D model that can then be manufactured. 'That's huge because it means people who have never touched a traditional 3D design tool can produce real parts from a simple text description, or even by snapping a photo of something that broke and needs to be replaced,' said Greg Mark, CEO and co-founder of the company. 'This reduces the barrier for entry into the field and enables the folks who are already in the industry to increase their productivity." The company's AI-powered design platform has been used by large toy manufacturers, CPG companies, interior designers, and even for costumes and SFX in Hollywood. This is useful when clients come in without a clear idea of what they want designed, Mark said. 'Using AI allows these companies to quickly workshop different ideas without spending a ton of time, money, and energy fine-tuning each concept during the ideation stage. Recommended Reading Additive manufacturing is pushing innovation in sportswear Sign in to access your portfolio
Associated Press
26-03-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Fictiv Launches Production Manufacturing & Supply Chain Solutions to Navigate Tariff Challenges
Trusted global manufacturing leader mitigates tariff challenges, boosts business scalability, and meets surging demand for top-tier, complex production services SAN FRANCISCO, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Fictiv, a global leader in supply chain and manufacturing has unveiled a significant expansion of its capabilities with the introduction of its Manufacturing & Supply Chain Solutions. Fictiv combines global engineering expertise across four manufacturing centers in the U.S., Mexico, India, and China with its advanced Supply Chain Platform to deliver end-to-end solutions, including design guidance, supplier selection, rapid prototyping, strategic sourcing, manufacturing planning, production, assembly, quality assurance, and logistics, allowing enterprises to seamlessly scale from prototype to production. 'Our expanded suite of manufacturing and supply chain solutions enables organizations to scale globally without the typical barriers of cost, resources, and risk,' says Dave Evans, Co-Founder and CEO of Fictiv. 'By leveraging Fictiv's AI technology-backed platform and four global manufacturing centers, companies can seamlessly access high-quality production, optimize supply chain logistics, and mitigate tariffs. This is the future of agile, resilient manufacturing at a global scale.' This new AI-driven supply chain platform integrates intelligence, automation, and quality control throughout the lifecycle, dynamically routing production, optimizing Design for Manufacturability (DFM), and proactively mitigating tariff risks. Fictiv offers an end-to-end digital infrastructure for sourcing custom mechanical components across aerospace, robotics, clean energy, consumer, and automotive sectors, streamlining the entire product and manufacturing lifecycle. With robust IP protection measures, including secure digital infrastructure and vetted manufacturing partners, Fictiv safeguards sensitive designs and proprietary information at every stage. ' At Lunar Energy, our mission is to power homes around the world with endless clean energy and backup protection when the grid goes down,' said Mark Rohan, VP of Operations at Lunar Energy. 'We operate at a very dynamic pace as we scale our business and we struggled with many suppliers to meet the dynamic pace of moving from prototype to production. We were quoted 20 weeks from large Contract Manufacturers and Fictiv was able to deliver production-quality parts in six to eight weeks. The supplier network that Fictiv has onboarded is incredibly impressive, we got to see it first hand and met the people who are building out tools and saw their quality processes, we can really trust Fictiv.' Building on over a decade of expertise working with R&D teams, this enhanced suite of services eliminates traditional supply chain barriers, helping businesses scale efficiently while expanding gross margins and mitigating risk—providing enterprises with the adaptability they desperately require. Fictiv's global supply chain solutions include the following key capabilities: Global Manufacturing Centers – Fictiv provides seamless access to high-quality production facilities in the U.S., Mexico, India, and China. This global reach enables businesses to scale efficiently while maintaining production consistency and quality. End-to-End Supply Chain Management – From ideation to full-scale production, Fictiv manages every stage of the supply chain, including supplier qualification, sourcing, and manufacturing. This includes: Ideation Service - Offers instant quotes, free DFM analysis, and access to hundreds of material and finish options. Engineering and Supply Chain Expertise - Provides expert guidance to navigate the complexities of global supply chains and engineering challenges. Global Project Management - Fictiv's regional experts manage suppliers, quality assurance, and logistics to ensure timely and successful project execution. Manufacturing Services - Optimizes production workflows by providing DFM engineering support, supply chain design, and ramp-up strategies to improve efficiency. Supplier and Logistics Management - Provides qualified supplier selection and agile logistics management to changing market conditions, ensuring uninterrupted production and delivery. Assembly & Integration - Offer full assembly and integration services to streamline production and reduce complexity for customers and deliver consistency, quality, and faster time to market. Logistics and Tariff Optimization Services - Reduce costs through leveraged shipping contracts and on-ground coordinators for seamless execution. Fictiv provides end-to-end customs clearance and inland transportation, ensuring timely deliveries. Fictiv also minimizes tariff and duty costs through various expert mitigation strategies. First Sale method – Lowering import costs via customs declarations. Country of Origin considerations – Optimizing manufacturing locations for favorable tariff rates. FTZ/Bonded Warehouse solutions – Storing or modifying parts to qualify for lower duties. Duty Drawback – Recovering costs when re-exporting products. Tariff Engineering – Adjusting product design to reduce tariff expenses while ensuring compliance. Quality Assurance – Stringent inspection processes and end-to-end traceability maintain consistent quality across all manufacturing stages. Fictiv verifies supplier compliance and applies risk mitigation strategies to uphold high reliability. Compliance – End-to-end traceability, rigorous inspections, and risk mitigation uphold production standards, backed by ISO 9001:2015 quality certification and manufacturing partners certified to AS9100 Rev D, ISO 13485:2016, and IATF 16949:2016 for consistency and reliability. 'Unlike conventional sourcing platforms, which function as static marketplaces, Fictiv operates across critical engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain life cycle nodes,' says Ashish Chaturvedi, Practice Leader, HFS. 'This end-to-end engagement—from design guidance and supplier selection to logistics and quality control—enables enterprises to transition seamlessly from prototype to production.' The Future of Manufacturing Supply Chains Has Arrived Fictiv's Global Manufacturing Supply Chain is transforming the way companies source, produce, and scale in a rapidly evolving market. By eliminating inefficiencies, reducing risk, and enhancing supply chain resilience, Fictiv empowers businesses to innovate faster and achieve unlimited scalability. Discover how Fictiv helped scale Lunar Energy to mass production. Fictiv is a global manufacturing and supply chain company that enables organizations to scale globally without the typical barriers of cost, complexity, and risk. By leveraging Fictiv's four global manufacturing centers in India, Mexico, China, and the U.S., companies can access high-quality production, optimize supply chain logistics, and mitigate supply chain risk—ensuring they can move from prototype to full-scale manufacturing with speed and confidence. To date, Fictiv has delivered more than 35 million commercial and prototype parts for early-stage companies and large enterprises alike, helping them innovate faster, free up precious resources, and drive profitable growth. Media Contacts: Fictiv 5WPR
