CADDi Co., Ltd.

The Problem CADDi Solves: Navigating Manufacturing Complexities

The custom part manufacturing industry, often characterized by high-mix, low-volume production, is plagued by inefficiencies, opacity, and fragmentation. Manufacturers frequently face challenges in: * Procurement: Difficulty in accurately estimating production costs for custom-made parts, finding optimal suppliers, managing fragmented supplier networks, and dealing with inconsistent pricing. * Data Management: Critical design data, often in the form of 2D drawings (even handwritten ones from decades ago), is stored in decentralized systems, making it difficult to search, analyze, and link with other vital information such as cost, quality reports, and order histories. This leads to redundant efforts, knowledge silos, and a reliance on experienced staff whose expertise can be lost due to retirement. * Supply Chain Optimization: Lack of transparency and real-time insights across the supply chain, leading to extended lead times, sub-optimal inventory management, and difficulties in ensuring consistent quality and on-time delivery.

CADDIs's founders recognized these deep-seated pain points from their experience in management consulting, realizing the enormous potential for digital transformation in this traditionally analog industry.

Products and Services: Two Pillars of Transformation

CADDIs's solutions primarily revolve around two flagship offerings: CADDIs Manufacturing and CADDIs Drawer, both underpinned by advanced AI and data science.

1. CADDIs Manufacturing (Parts Procurement Platform)

Initially launched as a 3D CAD-based procurement platform, CADDIs Manufacturing evolved significantly to focus on 2D drawings, which constitute the vast majority of design data used in supply chain and procurement operations. It functions as a one-stop service for parts procurement and manufacturing, aiming to optimize quality, cost, and delivery (QCD) within the supply chain infrastructure.

• Automated Quoting System: CADDIs Manufacturing provides an automated quoting system that quickly generates competitive prices for custom-made parts, including sheet metal, machining, framing, and plastics. This addresses the common inefficiency of prolonged bidding processes.
• Supplier Optimization: By aggregating orders and analyzing specifications, CADDIs matches demand with an optimal network of processing plants and manufacturing partners. This ensures that even high-mix, low-volume orders receive competitive pricing and stable demand for manufacturers, while purchasers benefit from consolidated supplier relationships and reduced procurement costs (reportedly by nearly 20%).
• Quality Assurance: CADDIs maintains strict quality control, boasting high on-time delivery rates (99.83%) and low non-defective rates (99.96%), far exceeding industry averages for lower-volume production. They have invested in over 10 global inspection centers to ensure quality across a wide array of parts, including casting, wire harnesses, and assemblies.
• Assembly Services: CADDIs expanded its offerings to include assembly services, handling orders of up to 10,000 components per equipment, further streamlining the manufacturing process for clients.

2. CADDIs Drawer (AI Data Platform for Manufacturing)

Launched in 2022, CADDIs Drawer is a cutting-edge cloud-based data utilization system designed to digitally transform how manufacturers manage and leverage their intellectual property embedded in engineering drawings and procurement data. It acts as a central, intelligent repository that makes manufacturing insights instantly searchable and actionable.

• Drawing Digitization and Centralization: CADDIs Drawer can batch-scan and upload various drawing formats (PDFs, TIFF, PNG, JPEG, even handwritten drawings) to centralize documentation. Its patented image analysis algorithm effortlessly digitizes intricate details, converting shapes and text from 2D drawings into searchable metadata.
• AI-Powered Search Capabilities:
  • Keyword Search: Users can instantly locate drawings using keywords, part names, dimensions, and other textual information.
  • Similarity Search: A revolutionary feature that leverages AI to identify the shape of each part and find similar drawings across all historical archives, including those from decades ago. This prevents rework, maximizes design efficiency by reusing past designs, and reduces search time from hours to seconds.
• Data Linking and Integration: CADDIs Drawer seamlessly connects drawings with other critical enterprise data, including:
  • Cost and Production Data: Linking drawings to purchase orders (POs), order histories, and cost benchmarks.
  • Quality Data: Integrating quality defect reports (SCARs) with drawings, transforming them into insights for design improvement.
  • ERP/PLM/PDM Integration: Connecting with existing enterprise resource planning (ERP), product lifecycle management (PLM), and product data management (PDM) systems to provide a unified data environment.
• Workflow Optimization and Collaboration:
  • Design Standardization: Promotes design standardization by making similar parts easily discoverable.
  • Faster Quotation: Enables sales teams to create better proposals by benchmarking past quotation and order prices.
  • Accelerated CAM Data Creation: Reuses past CAM files for similar parts, speeding up CAM development and enabling instant Design For Manufacturability (DFM) verification.
  • Knowledge Democratization: Turns past information into valuable assets, reducing reliance on seasoned staff for knowledge transfer and encouraging cross-departmental knowledge sharing.
  • Maintenance & Service: Easily locate maintenance parts without part numbers and find alternative options using similarity search.

Technological Underpinnings and Innovation

CADDIs's platform is built on advanced AI, machine learning (ML), computer vision, and cloud computing. Their patented algorithms are key to transforming static drawings into dynamic, searchable assets. The company's commitment to innovation has been recognized by Fast Company, which named CADDIs the "Most Innovative Manufacturing Software Company" in 2024. This recognition stems from their ability to apply AI to solve real-world industry problems, not just create generic tech solutions for manufacturing.

Future developments for CADDIs Drawer are planned to include 3D CAD model management and a streamlined Request for Quote (RFQ) process with the upcoming CADDIs Quote product, further enhancing efficiency in supplier negotiations.

Impact and Global Reach

CADDIs's solutions are designed to address the challenges faced by manufacturers of all sizes, from small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to large global corporations. By centralizing data, optimizing procurement, and enabling data-driven decision-making, CADDIs empowers companies to: * Reduce Procurement Costs: By identifying pricing inconsistencies and optimizing supplier selection. * Improve Operational Efficiency: Streamlining workflows across procurement, engineering, and sales departments. * Accelerate Product Development: By facilitating design reuse and faster access to critical data. * Mitigate Risks: By linking quality defect details to drawings and proactively identifying potential issues. * Bridge Knowledge Gaps: Preserving institutional knowledge and enabling seamless knowledge transfer within organizations.

CADDIs has seen significant growth since its founding, expanding its global footprint. While its roots and primary headquarters are in Japan, it has established a strong presence in the North American market with its U.S. headquarters in Chicago and Mexico supplier operations. The company serves over 10,000 users and securely stores over 132 million records, demonstrating its substantial impact across the manufacturing value chain. Backed by notable investors like Atomico and World Innovation Lab, CADDIs continues its mission to digitally transform the manufacturing industry, striving to make it more efficient, transparent, and resilient globally.