Global supply chains are under siege. A pandemic, escalating geopolitical tensions, and most recently tariffs have highlighted how traditional inventory systems are not well placed to keep pace with an unpredictable world. Companies face rising costs, erratic delivery schedules, and constant uncertainty. For many, it’s clear that new approaches are helping businesses stay flexible and future-ready.
Over the years as we have built the company we’ve seen more and more of our customers using our services in a smart and agile way — ordering parts only when needed, avoiding stockpiles, and running small batch production on demand. It is a trend that continues upwards. Customers using our service in this way are already tapping into one of the biggest advantages of additive manufacturing (AM), flexibility that minimises the burden of physical inventory and bypasses some of the risks or uncertainty.
Even with this on-demand approach, though, we did notice that some challenges kept cropping up: a file would go missing, or the wrong version would get printed, or the same set of parts would need to be uploaded and quoted again — from scratch.
So we asked ourselves: What if we could make this process even smoother, more streamlined and faster?
What if every repeat part— or an entire set of components with predefined specs — could live in one secure, central place — ready to go into production with a few clicks?
That’s why we built PartsVault™ — a smart and secure digital inventory platform that builds on what you were already doing, but removes the friction.
Think of it as your digital parts locker. Whether you're managing repeat production runs, ordering spares, or updating designs, everything is centralised, version-controlled, and connected directly to 3D People's manufacturing capabilities.
This isn’t just about managing files. It’s about enabling a faster, leaner, and smarter way of doing business.
Benefits for Existing Customers
For current users of 3D People’s services, PartsVault™ represents a major leap forward in productivity. Project folders can be aligned with customer orders, allowing users manufacturers to instantly trigger production without the friction of hunting down files or re-specifying requirements. Store the latest revision in each product to ensure you're never producing outdated parts, while saved production settings guarantee repeatable quality every time.
Already trusted by design engineers and production teams, PartsVault™ has been designed to further automate and streamline your process. The result? Less back-and-forth. And more confident reordering.
A Strategic Solution for Global Manufacturers
But perhaps the most exciting dimension of PartsVault™ is its potential to serve companies outside the UK. The fragility of global supply chains continues, especially with tariffs potentially on the rise again and warehousing costs climbing. Manufacturers need to find smarter ways to serve regional markets without physical stockpiles.
PartsVault™ lets non-UK companies store their part files digitally and trigger UK-based manufacturing only when needed. No shipping containers. No customs delays. No stranded inventory. It’s a just-in-time model that leverages the power of digital design and local production.
And with 3D People’s London facility equipped with industrial-grade powder bed fusion machines, unique post-processing capabilities, and ISO 9001 certification, manufacturers can rest assured that quality isn’t compromised.
The Bigger Picture
PartsVault™ is more than a service — it’s a shift in mindset.
It challenges the assumption that manufacturing must be tied to large batches, long lead times, and distant factories. Instead, it offers a vision of distributed, digital-first production that is agile, sustainable, and scalable.
It also dovetails perfectly with a broader industry trend, the rise of localised, on-demand manufacturing. As more businesses explore digital transformation and circular supply models, PartsVault™ gives them a practical way to take the first step.
Ready to Rethink Inventory?
Whether you're a regular 3D People customer or a global manufacturer looking to localise UK supply, PartsVault™ is a game-changer.
Explore PartsVault in more depth or talk to us today if you want to discuss your precise requirements.