Surface Design Solutions, a player in the realm of next-generation manufacturing software, recently made an exciting announcement: they have secured $365,000 in funding from the Richard King Mellon Foundation. This investment will play a crucial role in supporting the development of the next generation of skilled manufacturing workers while furthering the company’s mission to modernize surface engineering.
With this funding, Surface Design Solutions aims to scale up its newly developed software, specifically catering to manufacturers who are facing challenges posed by an aging workforce. It’s a pressing issue in the industry, as many experienced workers are nearing retirement, leaving a gap that’s difficult to fill.
This investment will also facilitate the co-development of effective training materials explicitly designed for both seasoned employees and newcomers, ensuring that everyone is equipped with the proper knowledge and skills. Additionally, the initiative involves creating user-friendly software interfaces that cater to the unique needs of production workers, making their daily tasks smoother and more efficient.
Surface quality and texture hold immense significance across a variety of manufacturing industries. They not only impact the visual appeal and tactile experience of products but also play a vital role in determining overall performance. For example, in sectors such as the automotive and aerospace industries, the condition of surfaces can significantly impact the efficiency of vehicles.
It’s not just the finished products that are influenced, but also the manufacturing equipment itself. Poor surface conditions can lead to increased scrap rates and prolonged downtime, ultimately driving up costs and eroding profits. Unfortunately, many manufacturers struggle with maintaining optimal surface quality in production tooling, as it often deteriorates over time.
To address these challenges, Surface Design Solutions utilizes advanced physics-informed machine learning technology—an innovative approach that enables the prediction of how surfaces will perform in real-world conditions. This capability allows manufacturers to avoid potentially costly issues, thereby enhancing both productivity and profitability.
What’s notable about their approach is that it produces actionable insights with only a fraction of the data typically required by traditional AI systems. This means that even in small-data manufacturing environments, valuable insights can be gleaned, yielding transparent and interpretable results.
The funding from the Richard King Mellon Foundation will significantly accelerate the rollout of Surface Builder, the company’s shop-floor software. This tool is designed to provide production workers with real-time feedback on surface performance, thereby eliminating the need for slow and often destructive testing methods. As part of the rollout, Surface Design Solutions is actively collaborating with experienced machinists and technicians to develop training materials that will enable new employees to become proficient quickly.
By capturing and passing on the invaluable insights of these seasoned workers, the company is helping to preserve critical skills that might otherwise be lost as the workforce ages. This approach not only reduces disruptions in production but also accelerates the onboarding process for newcomers, ensuring they can contribute effectively from the outset.
Interestingly, early partners who have adopted Surface Design Solutions’ software have reported remarkable outcomes. One global high-volume manufacturer reported a 35% increase in production efficiency by utilizing the software to optimize the surface finish of their tooling. Such results reflect the transformative potential of the technology and highlight the company’s commitment to enhancing operational effectiveness.
With a strong focus on training and development, Surface Design Solutions is prioritizing new partnerships with manufacturers who understand the importance of knowledge transfer and workforce development in today’s competitive landscape.
The investment from the Richard King Mellon Foundation comes as part of its Social Impact Investment Program, which is dedicated to putting financial resources into for-profit startups that align with the foundation’s broader philanthropic goals centered around social missions. This partnership should advance the capabilities of Surface Design Solutions, ensuring a robust future for the industry as a whole.
KEY QUOTES:
“With the rise of retirements in manufacturing and a clear need to train new talent faster, Surface Builder is designed to bridge that gap. Thanks to the Richard King Mellon Foundation’s support, we’re not just building smarter tools; we’re helping ensure the knowledge of today’s experts becomes the foundation for tomorrow’s workforce. The funding allows us to preserve critical shop-floor knowledge, reduce onboarding time, and drive long-term manufacturing resilience.”
“Surface finish has long been treated as an afterthought, measured only to check a box. Our platform shifts that thinking, empowering manufacturers to see surface quality as a powerful lever that can be precisely refined to improve performance and profitability.”
Dr. Tevis Jacobs, president and co-founder of Surface Design Solutions
