Introduction

The manufacturing industry has seen dramatic changes in the last few years as digital technologies have become more accessible and advanced. These changes have enabled manufacturers to achieve greater efficiency, improve production times and significantly reduce costs. As the world becomes increasingly digital, the manufacturing industry is being fundamentally transformed.  

Digital technology is revolutionizing the manufacturing industry on many fronts. The emergence of 3D printing, for example, has allowed manufacturers to produce high-precision parts at a fraction of the cost and time. Automated systems are also increasingly replacing human labor in the manufacturing process, enabling precision, speed and scalability. Meanwhile, Industry 4.0 is making it possible to collect, store and analyze data from the entire supply chain, allowing for more efficient decision making and improved quality control.  

Unfortunately, the productivity of many manufacturers is declining due to the slow speed of file transfer between them and their suppliers. This leads to delays in production, resulting in decreased profits. 

Traditional methods of collaboration

In the not-so-distant past, manufacturing industries used to have to rely on archaic methods of collaboration to transfer large files with their suppliers. This often included using disjointed, manual processes to share data. The process of exchanging CAD drawings could easily take weeks or months, with very little visibility or accountability.  

Some of the very common methods used by manufacturers are: 

1. Use of physical media such as CDs or USB drives

This was the primary way suppliers would transfer CAD drawings to the manufacturing plant. The supplier would send the physical media via mail or courier service to the manufacturing plant, where it would be stored in a secure location. This process was often very slow and unreliable, as there was no way to ensure the media was delivered on time or hadn’t been tampered with along the way. In addition, the files needed to be manually retrieved, transferred and stored. It took a significant amount of time and effort to complete this process, not to mention the cost of purchasing physical media and paying shipping fees.

2. Transferring large files using FTP sites

Transferring large files involved using FTP sites. Suppliers would upload their CAD drawings to a secure FTP server, and then email the link to the manufacturer. This method was slightly faster than using physical media, but it was still limited by slow internet speeds and unreliable connections. The link could also be easily intercepted or corrupted by malicious actors, putting the data at risk.

Shift to the fastest and Quantum-safe encrypted secure file transfer method

Although the old methods of collaboration were commonplace in the manufacturing industry a few years ago, they are quickly becoming obsolete.  

For most manufacturers, speed isn’t the only important quality in a file transfer system. If you need to send files containing trade secrets and intellectual property, then I’m sure privacy and security are equally important to you. 

When you send a highly confidential CAD drawing over a WAN, you don’t just want it to reach its intended recipient on time. You also wouldn’t want it to be viewed or snatched by anyone else along the way. 

Everyone is getting goosebumps about the future which has Quantum computers, any hacker will easily be able to decrypt the sensitive information being transferred from one place to another. 

This is where a Quantum-safe encrypted Secure file transfer system like Blaze can come in handy. This platform allows for secure, real-time collaboration between the supplier and the manufacturer, without the need for physical media or unreliable connections. This ensures that there is complete visibility and accountability, as well as an increased level of security which cannot be decrypted even with quantum computers in the coming future. 

For a comprehensive guide on safeguarding your CAD designs, refer to our article on How To Protect CAD Designs in the Manufacturing Industry.

Final Words

Manufacturing has become a highly digital industry in recent years, but the slow speed of file transfer between manufacturers and their suppliers has been a major obstacle to achieving maximum productivity and efficiency.

 Fortunately, secure file transfer systems like Blaze Quantum End-to-End Encryption are revolutionizing the way manufacturers collaborate with their suppliers. This platform offers unprecedented speed, security, and reliability, allowing manufacturers to send vital data with confidence. With this technology, manufacturers can now send large files with ease, allowing them to stay ahead of the competition.