Discover how to work with R&D for alternative materials when your primary source fails in materials science.

Alternate Vendor Development (AVD) ... Every R&D person would have come across this challenge. AVD is a critical and strategic move for business sustainability for the following reasons: 1) Prevent monopoly 2) Supply issues with the current vendor 3) Logistic issues (as seen during the #COVID pandemic) especially for the export products. 4) Capacity constraints once the product volume grows 5) Political and environmental issues - strikes and floods. As a second step, please reach out to your R&D team to evaluate the Critical Material Attribute (CMA) and Critical Quality Attributes (CQA) of the existing/ primary material. Equivalency between the existing and alternate material needs to be established on CMA and CQA.

Last updated on Aug 23, 2024

Your primary material source is unavailable. How can you collaborate with R&D to find alternative materials?

Facing a sudden scarcity of your primary material can be a daunting challenge. Imagine you're in the midst of a crucial production phase when you learn that your key material supply has been disrupted. Panic is a natural first reaction, but as someone involved in materials science, you know that collaboration with Research and Development (R&D) can be a lifeline. It's time to put on your problem-solving hat and work closely with R&D to identify and test alternative materials that can keep your production on track without compromising on quality or performance.

1 Assess Needs

Begin by thoroughly assessing your material needs. Understand the specific properties that make your primary material essential: is it the tensile strength, thermal resistance, or perhaps electrical conductivity? Once you have a clear list of required attributes, you can communicate effectively with R&D to explore materials that can match or even improve upon these characteristics. Remember, the goal is not just to find a substitute; it's to identify a material that aligns with the end product's requirements and the company's values, such as sustainability.

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Dr. Raghavendra nunna

Business Development Manager-Quartz Glass #Ceramic Expert# Semiconductor manufacturing# Wafer processing#Substrates for power electronics # R&D Manager
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Start by forming a cross-functional team to assess the original material's properties and requirements. Leverage R&D's expertise to identify alternative materials from existing inventories or explore novel options through literature reviews, material databases, and emerging technologies. Engage suppliers and academic partners for advanced materials and conduct iterative testing to validate performance and scalability. This approach turns supply chain challenges into opportunities for innovation, ensuring resilience and maintaining a competitive edge.

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2 Research Options

Your next step is to dive into research. With R&D by your side, investigate the landscape of available materials. This involves studying data sheets, existing research, and patents to uncover potential alternatives. R&D's expertise in material properties, sourcing, and cost considerations will be invaluable here. They can also help in understanding the implications of a switch, such as the need for new suppliers or changes in manufacturing processes.

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Calvin He

Recent Chemical Physics PhD Graduate from the University of Maryland - College Park
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It can be helpful to think outside the box and consider other industries that face a similar problem and may have a solution that works for you. There was a time where I had to develop an instrument that would be placed inside a vacuum chamber for laser experiments, so out-gassing properties were important. After talking with a machinist who has a background in aerospace, he introduced me to the material ultem, which is commonly used in a space applications and is not as commonly known for laboratory vacuum applications, but it had the properties we were looking for.

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Fatemeh Behrouz

Biomedical Engineer | Milli and Micro fluidics, computational modeling, 3D printing, and Nanotechnology in medicine
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There are a few steps to have an effective collaboration with R&D for providing primary material. We can start by estimating our material needs and understanding the essential properties of the required material such as tensile strength, thermal resistance, and..... In the next steps, we can do comprehensive research, and explore materials from existing inventories, literature reviews, material databases, and technologies. This method can address supply chain challenges efficiently.

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3 Test Rigorously

Once potential alternatives are on the table, rigorous testing is crucial. Work with R&D to develop a testing protocol that simulates real-world conditions. This might include stress tests, durability assessments, and compatibility checks with other materials used in your product. It's essential to ensure the new material can withstand the demands of your application and maintain the integrity of your product.

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Pirthi Pal Singh, PhD, PGDM

CxO | Inspiring Leader | Ex Dr.Reddy's | ICT Alumni | Pharmacist | Biotechnologist | Nutraceuticals | Numismatist
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Alternate Vendor Development (AVD) ... Every R&D person would have come across this challenge. AVD is a critical and strategic move for business sustainability for the following reasons: 1) Prevent monopoly 2) Supply issues with the current vendor 3) Logistic issues (as seen during the #COVID pandemic) especially for the export products. 4) Capacity constraints once the product volume grows 5) Political and environmental issues - strikes and floods. As a second step, please reach out to your R&D team to evaluate the Critical Material Attribute (CMA) and Critical Quality Attributes (CQA) of the existing/ primary material. Equivalency between the existing and alternate material needs to be established on CMA and CQA.

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SIBIN C.S

Manager - Academics
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When your primary material source is unavailable, form a cross-department team to assess the original material's key properties and performance criteria. Collaborate with R&D to explore potential replacements from existing stock, new research, or advanced materials, engaging external experts for additional insights. Conduct thorough testing to ensure these alternatives meet the required standards and can be scaled for production. By creatively considering solutions from other industries, you turn supply disruptions into opportunities for innovation and strengthen your supply chain's resilience.

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4 Analyze Data

After testing, analyze the data meticulously. Collaborate with R&D to interpret test results and compare them against the benchmarks set by your original material. This step is critical to making an informed decision about whether an alternative material is suitable. Look for trends and outliers in the data that could indicate potential performance issues or areas where the new material excels.

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5 Engage Stakeholders

Engaging stakeholders is key to a smooth transition. This includes briefing your production team on any process changes, informing your marketing team about the switch so they can update product information, and keeping upper management in the loop regarding cost implications. R&D can provide technical details and justification for the change, helping to build confidence among stakeholders.

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6 Implement Changes

Finally, if an alternative material meets all your criteria, it's time for implementation. Work closely with R&D to update specifications, train staff on any new handling or processing techniques, and roll out changes in production. Monitor the initial batches closely for any unexpected issues and be ready to iterate on the solution if needed. This final step cements the collaboration between you and R&D as you navigate the challenge together.

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Your primary material source is unavailable. How can you collaborate with R&D to find alternative materials?

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1 Assess Needs

2 Research Options

3 Test Rigorously

4 Analyze Data

5 Engage Stakeholders

6 Implement Changes

Materials Science

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