While Lean and Six Sigma are powerful for eliminating waste and improving consistency, they fall short in highly variable, custom, or disrupted environments. EDGE-X™ combines Lean with Quick Response Manufacturing (QRM) to reduce time-based inefficiencies and adds an Antifragile Strategy layer to build systems that adapt and improve under stress. It's the only integrated framework designed for speed, flexibility, and resilience in reshoring and supply chain-sensitive operations.

EDGE-X™ is designed for OEMs with 50 to 500 employees, especially those operating in high-mix, low-volume environments or navigating reshoring, supplier risk, or quoting delays. The program is modular—so smaller manufacturers can start with a focused pilot, while larger firms can adopt the full framework across sites.

EDGE-X™ equips manufacturers to reduce lead times, right-size inventory, and simulate disruption scenarios before reshoring. The Antifragile Strategy layer helps de-risk supply chains and plan for dual sourcing or capacity redundancy. Plus, tools like TwinEDGE™ digital twins and IntellEDGE™ dashboards offer real-time visibility and layout modeling to ensure smoother, more cost-effective transitions back to the U.S.

Most OEMs that implement the EDGE-X™ Pilot see measurable improvements in lead time, quoting speed, and on-time delivery within 90–120 days. Full operational transformations typically show dramatic cost, responsiveness, and resilience gains within 6–12 months. Key metrics tracked include MCT, fragility index, on-time delivery, and inventory turnover.

Yes. IntellEDGE™ dashboards are designed to connect with most ERP and MES systems to track relevant Lean, QRM, and Antifragile KPIs. Our team will work with your technical staff to ensure seamless integration, customized reporting, and visibility across departments.

Manufacturing Critical-path Time (MCT) is the total calendar time from when a customer order is created until the first piece is delivered—measuring both value-added and non-value-added time. Unlike cycle time, MCT reveals hidden bottlenecks like quoting delays, batching, approvals, and waiting. Reducing MCT through QRMEDGE™ improves cash flow, responsiveness, and competitive positioning—especially for custom or high-mix production environments.

Traditional risk management tries to minimize or avoid shocks. The Antifragile Strategy goes further: it helps your operation adapt, respond, and grow stronger when disruptions occur. This includes building redundancy, using stress testing, and designing supplier diversity or modular production systems. It shifts your mindset from recovery to strategic advantage through volatility, preparing your OEM not just to survive—but to thrive.

Each EDGE-X™ engagement includes expert facilitation, hands-on diagnostics, and tailored implementation support. Our team provides:

- QRM Cell design and coaching

- Lean value stream mapping and training

- Fragility indexing and Antifragile planning

- Dashboard setup and simulation modeling (via IntellEDGE™ & TwinEDGE™)
- For ongoing support, our EDGE-X™ Advisor program offers embedded fractional leadership, KPI reviews, quarterly strategy sessions, and guidance through future transitions or expansions.

QRMEDGE™ is a modular solution developed by Strategic Value+ Solutions that applies the principles of Quick Response Manufacturing (QRM) to reduce lead times across your entire enterprise—shop floor and office alike. It’s specifically designed for high-mix, low-volume (HMLV) manufacturers, where traditional Lean tools alone may not fully address time-based bottlenecks.

Built on the research of Dr. Rajan Suri at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, QRMEDGE™ focuses on reducing Manufacturing Critical-path Time (MCT)—the total calendar time from order to delivery. This includes wait times in quoting, approvals, purchasing, and batch scheduling, not just processing time.

By creating QRM Cells (cross-functional, self-managing teams) and redesigning workflows to minimize delays and handoffs, QRMEDGE™ helps OEMs:

- Cut lead times by 30–70%

- Accelerate quote-to-cash cycles

- Improve on-time delivery to 95%+

- Reduce overhead and excess inventory

- Respond more flexibly to reshoring or customer demand volatility

The Antifragile Strategy Layer is a core component of the EDGE-X™ framework that equips manufacturers to not only survive disruption—but to benefit from it.

Inspired by the concept introduced by risk analyst and author Nassim Nicholas Taleb, “antifragile” systems are those that gain strength, capability, and adaptability under stress. Unlike fragile systems that break and robust systems that merely resist change, antifragile operations improve through volatility.

In the manufacturing context, the Antifragile Strategy Layer includes:

- Supply Chain Diversification – shifting from single-source to dual/multi-source suppliers, nearshoring, and regionalization.

- Redundancy Planning – creating modular capacity and safety margins in critical operations.

- Scenario Modeling & Stress Testing – using tools like TwinEDGE™ digital twins to simulate disruptions and test organizational responses.

- Fragility Indexing – quantifying exposure across suppliers, workflows, and workforce dependencies.

- TCO-Based Sourcing Decisions – prioritizing long-term total cost of ownership (TCO) over short-term landed costs.

By embedding these principles into daily operations and long-term planning, the Antifragile Strategy Layer helps OEMs:

- Recover faster from shocks

- Make smarter reshoring and sourcing decisions

- Reduce risk concentration and operational bottlenecks

- Build a culture of learning and adaptability

- OEMs that adopt this layer report measurable improvements in delivery reliability, margin stability, and strategic decision-making—especially in post-pandemic, reshoring-intensive environments.

It’s not about predicting the next disruption—it’s about being ready for any of them.