3M Springfield Addressed Supply Chain Challenges by Developing a Process To Qualify Alternate Raw Materials Sources

Rhea-AI Summary

3M has addressed supply chain challenges by developing a process at its Springfield, Missouri plant to qualify alternate raw materials. Faced with supplier backorders in 2021, a multidisciplinary team explored options to substitute single-source materials. The initiative successfully updated over 1,500 products, reducing backorders by more than $5 million in just four months. This coordinated effort not only provides business continuity but also enhances supply chain flexibility and service to customers. Similar processes are being implemented in other 3M plants worldwide.

Positive

• Successfully qualified over 1,500 products with new raw materials.
• Reduced supply chain backorders by more than $5 million in four months.
• Enhanced supply chain flexibility and supplier options for better customer service.

Negative

• None.

NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / January 11, 2023 / 3M

Originally published on 3M News Center

Supply chain issues have affected nearly every sector of business and industry. In 2021, when 3M's Springfield, Missouri plant began seeing back orders from its suppliers for raw materials, the leadership team assembled a multidisciplinary team of production planners, sourcing and process engineers to begin exploring alternatives.

The Springfield plant produces many types of adhesives, coatings, and adhesive films that 3M uses in some of its own products and also sells to external customers. Like many 3M plants, it used single-source materials, meaning they come from a single supplier. When those designated suppliers couldn't deliver raw materials the plant needed, the team looked to qualify other suppliers with second sources -- raw materials that are similar enough to the primary material to replace it -- and sometimes even third or fourth sources, when needed.

To qualify alternate materials and suppliers, 3M Springfield works with the company's sourcing and supply chain teams and the divisional product laboratory to vet suppliers to ensure they meet 3M standards, and to identify and test materials that can be substituted without compromising product integrity. Then, the divisional and local quality team, laboratory, specification custodians, regulatory, and operations teams review samples to ensure they meet all requirements. This complex process can take months for each raw material.

The result? More than 1,500 3M products were updated with new, qualified raw materials, which reduced 3M Springfield's backorders by more than $5 million in just four months. With so many different groups involved in a single qualification of a second source, the level of coordination and communication required to do all of this in a short period of time was an impressive feat, said Christopher Bryan, 3M Springfield plant director.

"This coordinated process has allowed us to provide business continuity for our customers," Christopher said. "In many cases, without one or more back-up options for sources of supply we would have been down for months, waiting for our first supply source to provide the raw materials we needed."

In addition to helping cover supply chain issues in the short term, qualifying this volume of second sources will strengthen 3M's supply chain, provide supplier flexibility, and enable 3M to better serve its customers, he added. 3M plants worldwide are following similar processes to qualify alternate sources.

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https://www.accesswire.com/734902/3M-Springfield-Addressed-Supply-Chain-Challenges-by-Developing-a-Process-To-Qualify-Alternate-Raw-Materials-Sources

FAQ

What supply chain issues did 3M address in January 2023?

3M addressed supply chain issues by qualifying alternate raw materials at its Springfield plant to combat supplier backorders.

How much did 3M reduce its backorders by in four months?

3M reduced its backorders by more than $5 million in just four months.

How many products did 3M update with new raw materials?

3M updated over 1,500 products with new, qualified raw materials.

What is the significance of the new raw materials process for 3M?

The new process provides business continuity, enhances supply chain flexibility, and improves service to customers.

Are other 3M plants implementing similar processes?

Yes, 3M plants worldwide are following similar processes to qualify alternate sources of raw materials.