MakerBot has been going through a lot of growing pains lately, given the lawsuit against its parent company and low stock numbers. After the closure of the brand’s retail shops and letting go of a fifth of the company’s workforce, MakerBot CEO Jonathan Jaglom is on a mission to regain the public’s trust. And, today, the company has opened up a brand new factory at Industry City in Brooklyn with anticipated growth.
The new facility is larger than the last with a 170,000 square feet footprint, doubling the production capacity of their previous factory. MakerBot also suggests that the new facility has a streamlined design for more efficient manufacturing and, given the issues with the release of the Smart Extruder, the factory’s new, larger product testing area could serve to improve the quality assurance protocol. Among the tools being implemented to improve efficiency are two tools used by Toyota create a better work flow, the kanban scheduling system and the 5S system, which better organizes the work environment.
At the ribbon cutting this morning, CEO Jaglom stated, “Since MakerBot was founded in 2009, we have been leading the desktop 3D printing revolution from Brooklyn and this has spearheaded a renaissance of manufacturing here. Brooklyn has defined what MakerBot is today and I couldn’t think of a better place for our new factory. The new MakerBot factory is a state-of-the-art facility with a focus on lean manufacturing and efficiency, making it one of the most advanced factories in New York City and in the global 3D printing industry. Close proximity to our R&D teams and corporate headquarters is a huge advantage as it allows us to adapt quickly to changes in the growing market of 3D printing.”
Interestingly, the product testing area at the factory is a part of the company’s effort to “create the industry’s largest Quality Assurance operation” and the facility itself employs 140 staff. Both facts are consistent with MakerBot’s goal to reinvent itself in the public eye. And, while the Maker community from which it came may have a lot of trust, consumers at large may not be necessarily aware of the drama that has taken place with the brand, as MakerBot Minis head out to every Sam’s Club shop in the US. With the power of online reviews, however, there is plenty for the company to worry about and an improved QA department could be an important factor in putting the company back in good graces.
