SAN JOSE -- Jabil Circuit has become the latest EMS company to open an R&D and product innovation site here.

The firm announced the opening of its Blue Sky Center, a 100,000 sq. ft. site aimed at helping customers get products developed and launched more quickly.

“The Jabil Blue Sky Center is a hands-on showcase of our broad range of world-class capabilities,” said Jabil chief executive Mark Mondello. “We’re working with customers who have innovative new product ideas and our Blue Sky Center is where we turn dreams and ideas into reality.”

The facility features the company’s novel intelligent digital supply chain toolset, factory-of-the-future technologies, state-of-the-art Internet of Things (IoT) and rapid prototyping labs, as well as access to advanced capabilities for increasing customer collaboration and product innovation.

Jabil says the center will help customers innovate and bring new products to market faster, more affordably and with less risk. The site should go a long way toward helping customers that struggle with supply chain response, based on an April survey sponsored by Jabil of more than 300 organizations, which found: 

• More than 95% of respondents say lack of supply chain visibility introduces risk, with the top three risks identified as longer than desired lead time, additional shipping time and difficulty managing capacity.
• More than 80% reported it would take days or weeks to understand the impact of an extreme global weather event on their supply chain.
• Approximately 80% of respondents would launch products more frequently if manufacturing supported faster/more cost-effective delivery, while nearly 60% reported passing on a product idea because existing manufacturing processes were insufficient.
• 75% of those surveyed are planning, developing or producing IoT-related products; 77% admit a lack of expertise in-house to deliver.

The site will offer rapid prototyping with digital model shop capabilities, including various 3D printing technologies and materials; access to Jabil's product conceptualization and product design group; and participation in the Industrial Internet Consortium.

According to Mondello, the Blue Sky Center was designed to help customers engineer growth and stay relevant during a time of unprecedented market change. “Advanced technologies and a new generation of consumers are driving massive disruption across most markets, particularly as consumers demand instantaneous access and infinite customization,” he said. “These dynamics create complexities for customers and opportunities for Jabil to empower organizations, keep them relevant and ensure competitive advantage.”