Strategic Sourcing vs Category Management - What's the Difference? | Fractory
Strategic sourcing delivers quick wins, while category management ensures those wins are sustained and integrated into long-term strategies.| Fractory
Strategic sourcing delivers quick wins, while category management ensures those wins are sustained and integrated into long-term strategies.| Fractory
Welding defects are imperfections that occur during different welding processes. There are various reasons why welding defects occur during an operation. Welding services are mainly used in the manufacturing industry …| Fractory
Negotiation isn’t just a skill for salespeople—it's essential for anyone dealing with deadlines, contracts, or complex conversations.| Fractory
Kraljic matrix is used in procurement and supply chain management to categorise purchases and suppliers by their supply risk & profit impact.| Fractory
Explore 13 common plastics used in injection moulding, including their key properties, advantages, limitations, and typical applications.| Fractory
Custom metal fabrication services for project and series manufacturing. 1-1 engineering support and payment terms for companies.| Fractory
Procurement KPIs are quantifiable metrics used to track and assess procurement efficiency, cost reduction efforts, and supplier performance.| Fractory
Procurement has long been viewed as a cost-control function, focused on securing the lowest prices from suppliers. However, forward-thinking businesses increasingly recognise procurement as a strategic asset—one that can drive […] The post Why CFOs Should Invest in Procurement: Aligning for Strategic Value appeared first on Fractory.| Fractory
The market for metal injection moulding (MIM) is experiencing significant growth, rising from US$1.5 billion in 2015 to US$4.6 billion in 2024—an impressive tripling. Back in 1986, the market was […] The post Metal Injection Moulding – Process, Pros, Cons & More appeared first on Fractory.| Fractory
Category management is an approach to procurement where similar products and services are grouped to consolidate spend and maximise savings.| Fractory
Flux-cored welding (FCAW) is an arc welding process that uses continuous wire-fed tubular electrodes containing a flux.| Fractory
Spend analysis is the structured process of collecting, cleaning, classifying, and analysing procurement expenditure data.| Fractory
Metalloids are unique natural elements that possess characteristics of both metals and nonmetals. Their distinctive properties make metalloids irreplaceable in various scenarios. This article explores this group of elements, discussing […] The post Metalloids – Definition, Properties & Applications appeared first on Fractory.| Fractory
Fractory appoints digital manufacturing veteran Bjoern Klaas as CEO and secures another funding round.| Fractory
Businesses depend on extensive supplier networks to deliver the goods and services they need, but these supply chains are increasingly exposed to risks. Market volatility, geopolitical tensions, and unexpected disruptions […] The post Unlocking Value with Strategic Sourcing appeared first on Fractory.| Fractory
Should procurement report directly to the CFO, COO, or even the CEO? Or is it best positioned within supply chain or operations?| Fractory
Laser cutting has different working principles for both CO2 and fibre. Learn more about each of them in the article.| Fractory
Injection moulding is a manufacturing process that uses high pressure to force soft materials, mainly plastics, into moulds to shape them.| Fractory
Shielded metal arc welding (SMAW), informally stick welding, is a welding process that uses a flux-coated electrode to join metals.| Fractory
Sheet metal fabrication is the process of transforming flat metal sheets into products. Metal fabrication inclues cutting, punching, bending, etc.| Fractory
Scale your production with Fractory. Metal punching & blanking for project & series manufacturing. 1-1 engineering support, payment terms for companies| Fractory
Effective Inventory management strategies reduce costs, enhance customer satisfaction, and most importantly, increase operational efficiency.| Fractory
A lead screw is a mechanical power transmission linkage used for converting rotational motion into linear motion.| Fractory
Cutting kerf is the width of a cut. Almost every cutting method produces a kerf through the removal of material but the final width varies.| Fractory
Electrical discharge machining (EDM) is a subtractive manufacturing process converting electrical discharge into thermal energy.| Fractory
Tool steels are a sub-group of alloy steels. The article discusses the production methods, different grades and applications.| Fractory
Read about the recommendations for CNC machining tolerances and what to consider when deciding on the tolerance ranges.| Fractory
Want to know how to identify a good machine shop? We have some pointers regarding the must-haves for any service provider.| Fractory
Forging is a metal shaping process that applies heat and high pressure to create strong, durable components with refined grain structures.| Fractory
In 2025, supply chains face an array of challenges, such as geopolitical tensions, tariffs, labour shortages & raw material shortages, etc.| Fractory
Explore Europe's supply chain workforce: its role, challenges like ageing population and skills gaps, and how tech and education trends shape its future.| Fractory
Warehousing includes various functions beyond simply storing goods, such as order processing, asset protection and managing inventory.| Fractory
How to overcome aluminium laser cutting challenges? Knowing the subject helps you choose the right aluminium cutting service provider.| Fractory
CAD software has become a mainstay in every engineer's toolkit because of the advantages it offers over paper & pencil. What are they?| Fractory
Galling is a phenomenon wherein adhesion occurs between two metal surfaces in sliding contact, resulting in frictional damage or seizing.| Fractory
CNC turning services for project & series manufacturing. Wide range of metals and plastics available, 1-1 engineering support, payment terms for companies.| Fractory
This article delves deep into the iron-carbon phase diagram, exploring the different states of matter along with explanations.| Fractory
The heat affected zone (HAZ) is a by-product of thermal cutting and welding of metal. How to reduce its impact on the final product?| Fractory
Waterjet cutting services for project and series manufacturing. 1-1 engineering support, payment terms for companies, competitive pricing.| Fractory
Tube laser cutting services for project and series manufacturing. 1-1 engineering support, payment terms for companies, competitive pricing.| Fractory
Plasma cutting services for project and series manufacturing. 1-1 engineering support, payment terms for companies, competitive pricing.| Fractory
Sheet metal folding services for project and series manufacturing. 1000-ton manual & CNC press brakes, 1-1 engineering support, payment terms for companies.| Fractory
Flame cutting services for project and series manufacturing. 1-1 engineering support, payment terms for companies, competitive pricing.| Fractory
Fatigue strength is especially important in applications with fluctuating loads. Learn more about causes of failure and prevention.| Fractory
The EU Supply Chain Act is coming... Discover what this act entails, how it will affect businesses, and what they need to do to prepare.| Fractory
The meaning of structural steel classification symbols and the mechanical properties of the most used grades S235, S275, S355 and S420.| Fractory
Belt drives transmit power between shafts using pulleys and an elastic belt. We cover a wide array of belt drive designs & belt types.| Fractory
A welding joint is a point or edge where pieces of metal are joined together. Proper joint design complements the weld structure, the welding technique & material.| Fractory
First, learn about the different types of couplings and then choose the suitable one to fulfil your engineering requirements.| Fractory
Sheet metal shearing processes involve cutting sheet metal by using a set of blades or a punch and die to create cuts in the material.| Fractory
Hot rolled steel and cold rolled steel both have their uses and advantages deriving from their respectibe manufacturing methods.| Fractory
Copper alloys like bronze, brass and cupronickel combine many qualities to form new metals. Those are suitable to serve different purposes in many sectors.| Fractory
Sheet metal bending can be done using many methods. We discuss those along with springback, bend allowances, k factor, design tips etc.| Fractory
Want to avoid mistakes as an engineer? Check out those engineering tips to design better products! A collection of ideas from CAD engineers.| Fractory
Poka-yoke aims to reduce or eliminate mistakes and waste. We discuss ways for implementation, types of poka-yoke, how it helps, etc.| Fractory
Concurrent engineering is a product development process whereby different stages are tackled simultaneously. Learn why and how to use it.| Fractory
Cloud manufacturing is the next step in the manufacturing industry, with the aim of sharing the market's capabilities with any party.| Fractory
The difference between stainless steels AISI 304 and AISI 316 is chemical composition. This means altered mechanical properties and applications.| Fractory
Welding stainless steel is a complex process that requires knowledge, skill, and experience to produce defect-free results.| Fractory
Magnetic metals have a variety of purposes but some applications need materials that are non-magnetic. So which is which? Let's find out!| Fractory
TIG welding is an arc welding process that uses a non-consumable tungsten electrode to produce high-quality welds.| Fractory
MIG welding is a cost-efficient welding process in which an electric arc fuses the consumable MIG wire electrode with the parent metal.| Fractory
Welding aluminium is a complex process that requires knowledge, skill, and experience to produce defect-free results.| Fractory
There are many ISO standards to follow and certificates to acquire. Manufacturing companies usually target a few of them. Get to know the 5 most used ones.| Fractory
Normalising involves heating metals to a set temperature, holding them there for a certain time and then air-cooling back to room temperature| Fractory
Chain drive is a type of mechanical power transmission system that uses chains to transfer power from one place to another.| Fractory
Case hardening is a heat treatment process through which the surface of a metal is hardened while maintaining a softer core at the same time.| Fractory
Carburising is a heat treatment process that improves mechanical properties such as hardness by adding carbon to a metal’s surface.| Fractory
Pickling is the chemical cleaning of metal surfaces before further processing. It is most commonly performed after hot working processes.| Fractory
Electroplating is a surface finishing process in which a thin layer of metal atoms is deposited to another material through electrolysis.| Fractory
Plasma cutting is one of the most widely used metal cutting methods. Learn how plasma cutters work and their suitability for different jobs.| Fractory
Material hardness can be a crucial property of a material when considering the environment. How to test and compare the results?| Fractory
Laser cutting services for project and series manufacturing. 1-1 engineering support, payment terms for companies, competitive pricing.| Fractory
Looking for a laser cutting quote? Get an instant laser cutting price on Fractory's online platform for 2D DXF drawings and 3D CAD models.| Fractory
Computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) is an automated way of manufacturing products, using computer-generated code to control the machinery.| Fractory
CNC machining is a common answer to complex questions in manufacturing. Learn more about the working principles & capabilities of CNC machines.| Fractory
Milling cutters are the tools used for CNC milling. Every type has a different purpose and use-case. Let's explore the possibilities.| Fractory
Finite element analysis software is included in many common CAD programs. We bring out the pros and cons of the most common ones.| Fractory
CNC turning is a manufacturing process for making cylindrical parts by turning, boring, drilling, etc. Learn what is possible.| Fractory
CNC milling is a mechanical fabrication method to produce intricate parts through material removal. We discuss the different aspects of it.| Fractory
CNC machining cost depends on quite a few different aspects of the manufacturing process. So how to assess the price? Learn more.| Fractory
Design for Assembly offers a set of principles to follow when looking to design and develop cost-efficient products.| Fractory
Sustainable procurement integrates ESG factors into decision-making, meeting business needs while minimising harm to the planet & society.| Fractory
Risk assessment matrix is a visual tool aiding proactive risk management, helping identify threats early & develop plans to minimise impact.| Fractory
Design for X (DFX) helps engineers to keep different aspects of the product life cycle in mind already in the design phase. Learn how...| Fractory
The product life cycle is a powerful administrative tool that maps the different phases a product goes through from its launch to withdrawal.| Fractory
This tutorial gives you the basic understanding of how to read and create technical engineering drawings.| Fractory
Cost reduction in manufacturing is usually looked at from the same old angle - production costs. We have some new ideas to share with you!| Fractory
Geometric dimensioning & tolerancing ensures that parts function properly at the assembly level. We introduce the basics and symbols.| Fractory
Burrs can cause many problems and hazards. Turning to deburring can still provide a great quality surface. Which method is best for you?| Fractory
Mild steel is a synonym for low-carbon steel. Its low price and great properties make mild steel the most common metal around.| Fractory
Ultimate tensile strength is one of the most important material properties. Learn why every engineers has to understand it.| Fractory
Types of metal include alloys and pure elements; ferrous and non-ferrous metals. The article focuses on the different types and their uses.| Fractory
Bearings come in many types and forms. The article lays out the main differences and use-cases for each type.| Fractory
Topology optimisation can lead to reduced waste and more energy efficient solutions. Learn how the method works and ways to benefit.| Fractory
Tempering is a heat treatment process in which ferrous alloys are heated to a set point below its lower critical temperature. Tempering increases toughness, reduces brittleness and alters many other mechanical properties of metals.| Fractory
Quenching is performed to obtain certain mechanical properties in metals by rapidly cooling the workpieces in water, oil, polymer or air.| Fractory
Material wear is divided into sub-categories - mechanical, corrosive and adhesive. We'll look at the mechanisms behind every type of wear.| Fractory
Heat treatment allows to change the properties of metal by manipulating it with heating and cooling. Learn more about the different methods.| Fractory
Annealing changes the material's properties to make it more ductile and less hard, reducing internal stresses & making it easier to work with.| Fractory
