Scaling custom manufacturing
For manufacturers of highly customised products, balancing configurations with accuracy and efficiency can be a constant challenge. As product complexity grows, so does the risk of errors, delays, and inefficiencies. DriveWorks design automation, 3D product configurator, and CPQ solutions enable manufacturers to automate complex engineering tasks, maintain quality standards, and deliver products efficiently. SAFE-T-FAB uses DriveWorks to automate their custom design work and enable customers to configure products online and receive drawings and quotes instantly.
The challenge
SAFE-T-FAB is based in the USA and specializes in custom ladders, crossover stairs, and platforms. Their products are highly customized, providing bespoke safety solutions that “off-the-shelf” products can’t match.
As the business grew, the engineering team found themselves spending more time on manual CAD work and less time on the complex design problems they were hired to solve. Every custom order required engineers to:
- Manually update model geometry
- Update bills of material (BOMs)
- Adjust weldment cut lists
This could take at least an hour for each order, leading to bottlenecks and delays.
Additionally, SAFE-T-FAB doesn’t have a fixed catalog of parts because every product they sell is unique. Their goal was to apply automation to a business model where “standard” doesn’t exist.
The solution
SAFE-T-FAB uses DriveWorks to encode their engineering knowledge and automate their design process. Using DriveWorks, the engineering team:
- Built rules for their design logic
- Embedded safety standards (including OSHA safety codes)
- Automated the generation of models, drawings, and manufacturing data
This enabled SAFE-T-FAB to maintain full customization while improving speed and design consistency.
They have also used DriveWorks to develop a Bus Maintenance Platform project, enabling customers to configure their own bus maintenance system online and receive a dimensioned drawing and quote instantly.
The benefits
The implementation of DriveWorks delivered several benefits for SAFE-T-FAB:
1. Time savings
What previously took an hour of manual CAD work is now completed in around 10 minutes as an automated background process. This freed engineers to focus on higher-value tasks, such as complex design challenges and customer collaboration.
2. More quotes processed
SAFE-T-FAB now processes 15% more quotes. Automated notifications also alert their sales team to follow up on quotes with no response. Their sales team has more time to focus on selling rather than sales admin.
3. Revenue and business growth
By improving quote turnaround times and enabling customers to configure products online, they have achieved a 56% year-on-year revenue increase and a 50% increase in average order value.
4. Improved accuracy and compliance
By embedding engineering rules and safety standards, SAFE-T-FAB has reduced the risk of design errors and ensures consistent adherence with safety regulations.
5. Scalable customization
DriveWorks enabled SAFE-T-FAB to scale their business without sacrificing their unique, highly customized product offering.
Summary of business metric improvements
- 56% year-over-year revenue increase.
- 15% increase in total quotes processed.
- 50% increase in average order value.
We needed a tool that could handle our specific design logic and still give us that automated result. We knew DriveWorks was the engine that could do it.
Christopher Anderson
Data Analysis and Implementation Engineer at SAFE-T-FAB
Configure, design, sell, and manufacture custom products faster
DriveWorks enables manufacturers to design, customize, and deliver custom products faster and more accurately.
Whether you operate in industries such as architecture, machinery, HVAC, medical equipment, or transportation, DriveWorks enables you to handle complex, configurable products with less manual effort. By automating design and quoting processes, you can reduce errors, shorten sales cycles, and respond faster to customer requests for bespoke solutions.
DriveWorks is used by manufacturing companies from a range of industries, enabling manufacturers to overcome the challenges of designing and selling configurable products.
Because DriveWorks is modular, scalable, and incredibly versatile, manufacturers use DriveWorks in many different ways, building design automation, product configurator, and CPQ solutions to suit their needs.