#Japan #Tokyo #Dave Evans #Fictiv #MISUMI

A New Era for Manufacturing in the Americas

In a significant restructure aimed at advancing innovation in the manufacturing sector, MISUMI Group has announced the appointment of Dave Evans, co-founder of Fictiv and CEO of Fictiv Inc., as the president of MISUMI Americas Business Company, effective March 1, 2026. This change is part of a strategic initiative to enhance the synergy between MISUMI and Fictiv, leveraging AI to establish a unified digital platform that boosts the value proposition for both standard and custom mechanical parts.

Pioneering a New Chapter in Manufacturing

Under this new leadership, the integration of MISUMI’s extensive component offerings with Fictiv’s digital manufacturing capabilities will facilitate a faster and more efficient manufacturing process, spanning from prototyping to mass production. The scope of this initiative includes various industries such as factory automation (FA), robotics, medical technology, next-generation air mobility, aerospace, agritech, and climate technology.

Mr. Evans has been actively involved in constructing a global manufacturing network and developing cloud-based tools designed to assist both commercial and prototyping needs, leading to the production of over 40 million parts. By continuing to helm Fictiv while also directing operations at MISUMI Americas, he aims to merge strategy and execution seamlessly.

Insights from Dave Evans

Evans expressed his enthusiasm regarding this transformative period for manufacturing in the Americas. He stated that by integrating MISUMI and Fictiv into a singular digital platform, they could leverage AI and digital manufacturing technologies to deliver precision-engineered standard and custom parts more swiftly than ever before. This advancement is expected to accelerate product development timelines, enabling customers to bring their ideas to market with unprecedented speed.

Digital Manufacturing and Innovation

Leading the charge in establishing a digital manufacturing marketplace, Evans has focused on building a global network of vetted manufacturing partners and developing cloud-based tools that simplify the complex procurement process for custom parts. This growth reflects the significant shift towards digital models in the industry, enabling an entirely new level of efficiency through IT and AI innovations.

At present, the MISUMI Group is rapidly accelerating its 'Digital Model Shift,' using AI and Fictiv's expertise to spark innovations in standard, custom, mass-produced parts, and assemblies. The company's extensive database boasts around 10,000 CAD files uploaded daily, creating a robust foundation for AI-driven estimations, manufacturability assessments, and process optimizations.

Mission Statement from the Leadership

MISUMI Group President, Ryutaka Ohno, underscored the importance of the Americas as a growth market for the company. He emphasized their goal to merge Japan's commitment to precision quality with America’s digital innovation to create an unparalleled manufacturing platform. Ohno aims for continued growth through an expansion of the digital model business and by strengthening AI capabilities in conjunction with Fictiv.

Establishing a Robust Manufacturing Framework

The combination of MISUMI's emphasis on precision with Evans's digital innovation from Fictiv aims to construct a framework for MISUMI Americas Business Company capable of leading the next generation of manufacturing. This approach balances the high-quality standards that Japanese manufacturing is known for while contributing significantly to industry development in the Americas.

Valuable Offerings for Customers

Through the integrated platform, MISUMI Americas will provide a broad array of value-added offerings to customers, including:

• - A diverse lineup of millions of configurable components and standard parts.
• - Quick custom part manufacturing through digital quoting.
• - Support for manufacturability design (DFM) and automated design using AI.
• - High-precision manufacturing services based on rigorous quality management.
• - Support for a wide range of customers, from startups to large OEMs.
• - Enhanced supply chain resilience and accelerated innovation cycles.

The mission of MISUMI Americas Business Company is to make manufacturing faster, smarter, and more accessible. For innovators in fields like robotics and medical technology, having a partner that balances accuracy and speed is invaluable. As they aim to fulfill customer expectations, MISUMI Americas Business Company is set to play a pivotal role in supporting the next generation of manufacturing.