Heather Miller
Discover how Made by Gather centralized data and connected workflows using Autodesk’s cloud PLM solution, Fusion Manage and achieved a 4× efficiency boost in product development.
Made by Gather is a design-forward kitchen appliance manufacturer behind America’s fastest-growing kitchenware brands. Along with private label work, it’s well known for the Beautiful by Drew Barrymore collection and bella kitchenware that boasts the number-one selling toaster in the United States. Over the last 20 years, Made by Gather’s growth has been rapid and exponential with now $5 billion in sales since inception, 15 million units shipped every year, and more than 200 employees across North America and Asia.
But their team faced growing challenges juggling numerous products, deadlines, and growing volume. Siloed spreadsheets, scattered email threads, duplicated work, and disappearing institutional knowledge made it increasingly difficult to keep pace. To forge a new path forward, Made by Gather turned to the Autodesk’s cloud PLM solution, Fusion Manage that ultimately delivered an extraordinary 4X increase in efficiency.
Realizing the benefits of Autodesk Fusion Manage
Before implementing Fusion Manage, many of the company’s workflows were fragmented and inefficient. Critical information lived in spreadsheets, inboxes, or within individual teams, making collaboration difficult and knowledge easy to lose.
“In the past we were often using spreadsheets and a lot of our processes were very siloed and differentiated,” says TJ Ward, engineering lab manager, Made by Gather. “There were many times where people were duplicating tasks or they didn’t get the proper information from the teams because they didn’t have a space where all the information was centralized.”
With Fusion Manage, Made by Gather created a central source of truth that enabled real-time collaboration and easy access to product data across teams. Team members can now instantly access the latest specifications, change histories, supplier details, and documentation. This eliminates miscommunication and keeps all departments aligned.
“PLM enabled us to work collaboratively on a cloud-based system in real-time and very quickly people are able to access all the information localized on that PLM,” Ward says.
Keeping knowledge and data accessible for all
Like with any company, change happens. People can come and go. But when they go, that knowledge also walks out the door. With Fusion Manage, critical product information and historical context are retained and always available, creating lasting organizational memory.
Centralized data and streamlined processes have also led to productivity gains, improved efficiency, and the ability to manage a higher volume of projects.
“It improved our efficiency 4X, so that gives us the implied profitability and everything else because we’re able to handle that much more projects,” Ward says.
The solution has been transformative for Ward and the organization overall. For companies considering a similar transition, his recommendation is clear.
“I would definitely recommend this PLM solution because it definitely will help with their productivity,” Ward says. “But if it’s a competitor, I wouldn’t recommend it.”