Interview with Jochen Loock on digital warehouse “On-Demand Production”

21.12.2023

Supply chain disruptions have emerged as a crucial risk factor for numerous companies in recent years. In response to the current challenges in the spare parts supply chain, DB Schenker introduces a key solution based on 3D printing: Digital Warehousing.

But what is digital warehousing and how exactly does it work? How can a logistics company leverage 3D printing?

In this interview, Jochen Loock, Business Development Manager at DB Schenker, lets us know more about their digital warehousing service, "On-Demand Production." With over seven years of experience in 3D printing at Fraunhofer and a robust entrepreneurial perspective, he provides insights into the digital warehousing approach and offers a glimpse into future developments.
 
 
 

railauction.plus: Jochen, Digital Warehouse appears to be another buzzword. Could you please explain what it entails?

Jochen Loock: For our team, the concept of a digital warehouse involves storing parts in a digital format rather than in a physical storage facility. When a need arises, instead of physically transporting the part, it can be sent digitally to a decentralized production facility where the parts are subsequently manufactured. The utilization of 3D printing proves to be an ideal technology for this purpose due to its digital characteristics. It allows for on-demand production precisely in the required quantity.

railauction.plus: What prompted DB Schenker to introduce a digital warehousing service?

Jochen Loock: We are aware, based on our existing spare part management solutions, that customers face significant challenges with supply availability, and lead times for spare parts have experienced a substantial increase. This is a catastrophe for many of our customers because if machines, trains, or cars are not supplied with spare parts, they stand still, which leads to very, very high costs. The market asks us to provide innovative alternative solutions. We started offering our product one year ago, and we already have ongoing projects with eight different companies from the verticals automotive, railway, and industrial. An illustrative partner in this context is Deutsche Bahn, which has accumulated seven years of experience in printing over 80,000 spare parts. Together, we are taking the next step to digitize 10% of their inventory.

 
railauction.plus: What is behind your new On-Demand Production digital warehouse service?

Jochen Loock: On the surface, it is a platform that stores data and makes it accessible on-demand instead of storing physical parts. In the background, it acts like an independent broker offering parts from a network of 3D printing production to the customer. Similar to how Uber doesn't own cars, we do not own manufacturing machines. Instead, we collaborate with specialized subcontractors worldwide who produce spare parts on demand. Our role involves coordinating these suppliers, ensuring a seamless process for clients to receive the required parts promptly and at the designated location, meeting the necessary quality standards. Ultimately, we assist the customer in seamlessly integrating a complex, global 3D printing ecosystem into their existing procurement processes.

railauction.plus: What are existing obstacles preventing customers from adopting the concept of a digital warehouse?

Jochen Loock: Numerous customers face challenges in initiating the process and lack knowledge about which parts are suitable for 3D printing. Consequently, we assist in identifying viable parts through our consulting service known as "part screening." Additionally, we address various customer challenges, such as engineering issues, such as digitizing components for a 30-year-old train or achieving the equivalent quality of the original part. Our support is grounded in our extensive experience, delivered in a structured, efficient, and timely manner.

railauction.plus: What lies ahead for the future of digital warehousing?

Jochen Loock: Presently, digital warehousing is applied within the lucrative niche of spare parts. Much like Amazon, which initially focused on book deliveries and later diversified their offerings, we anticipate a comparable expansion of our concept. In the future, alternative technologies may be employed for on-demand production services for non-3D-printable parts. Furthermore, there is potential to extend this concept to urgently needed serial production parts.