The Digital Thread

Get to know the latest trends shaping the future of manufacturing in 2025. From overcoming supply chain challenges and leveraging AI, to enhancing sustainability and embracing digital innovation, we explore navigating industry-wide challenges with cutting-edge technologies.

10 reasons why Protolabs should be on your Approved Vendor List (AVL).

Manufacturing is changing. In the past, manufacturing was all about mass production and economies of scale, but now shifting consumer demands are driving a transformation of the industry. In this blog, we break down some of the key trends piloting these changes.

For the manufacture of goods, efficiency is paramount. A process that reaps lean operations and inventory management is just-in-time (JIT) manufacturing. Learn more.

Lean Manufacturing (or Lean Production) has been around for years (since 1450 to be precise), but what is lean manufacturing and why is it important? Learn more

Just-in-time manufacturing was created to cure supply chain woes, but something happened…

As a design firm how do you choose a manufacturing partner? And how do you ensure you get the most out of that relationship? This blog post explores the answer.

You need someone to help you get that part designed in CAD, prototyped, tested and out to market; where do you start? This blog looks at the answer to this.

As the complexity of supply chains continues to grow and the number of unforeseeable disruptions increases, it is essential for businesses to develop a risk management strategy to address future disruptions. For organisations looking to build a resilient supply chain, this blog focuses on five key elements necessary for preparing for future disruptions.

Selecting the right manufacturing partner is vital to ensure your project's success, but how can you be sure that you are making the right decision? We've listed three things you must consider when selecting your production partner.

Forming the right partnerships in the early days could make the difference between success and failure.  This blog explores where you can go for help from the early stages of your business through to manufacturing.

Protolabs' quality system starts when a customer uploads a part file and runs through the entire manufacturing process and into shipping.