In your procurement world there may be occasions where you need more than some candidates to answer a RFQ. Smaller companies might need design or scientific material advice. Large projects may require interplay between prospective suppliers. Rather then hire some consulting firm to handle such situations, please consider Proficient Sourcing.
Two recent examples illustrate the Proficient Sourcing advantage available to any interested buyer, engineer or other person seeking a more complex sourcing answer.
The first example came from a buyer with whom we’ve worked several times. This buyer needed advice on materials and manufacturing methods for a new product component. The component needed to tolerate dishwasher heat and also be appropriate for food service.
One of our local network suppliers deals in high precision thermoset plastic molding, and they have excellent design capabilities. A meeting between their engineer and the buyer’s company was held, at which time we examined several options to satisfy the company’s requirements.
While these deliberations resulted in a potential solution, the cost was seemingly too high. At that point we then went to a non-local thermoplastic manufacturing company with extensive food service experience. Not only that, but this company also offers 3D printing. This company offered a low cost exact prototype via 3D methodology along with a material recommendation widely used in similar food service applications. Their resultant quote was at a cost but a fraction of our original thermoset alternative.
The point is we employed local resources to provide initial engineering and design advice, which led to the employment of the thermoplastic company that had a much superior answer. The buyer asked out help; we have delivered a comprehensive solution. The buyer has neither obligation nor cost for any of these services. We believe our solution has an excellent chance of being selected.
Our second example came from another network supplier. This project originated with an OEM wanting to reshore a set of metal parts. They sent a RFQ to a local assembler we knew well, who then sent their RFQ to a company in our network for several moderately high volume metal parts to be supplied to the assembler.
Our network company came to us because the volumes were high for them and they needed help. One of the parts involved a relatively large deep draw feature outside their capabilities. In short order we found an experienced manufacturer for that part, as well as a 3rd supplier for another of the several parts. At this point we were able to provide a coordinated manufacturing plan for this project involving 3 companies formerly unknown to each other.
The most difficult aspect was that company #1 had to make a part and ship it to company #2 so that it could be bonded to their deep drawn part. The 2 companies worked out that plan as well as a recommended design improvement to eliminate this step entirely.
Once again we were able to search our network to find suitable candidates for a difficult project and offer a solution within the needed time frame. In this case we needed to have 2 of the 3 companies, previously unknown to each other, work together to come up with an internal solution and then design an improvement.
Our job was to find suitable candidates for this work and then act as overall quarterback to initiate the communication between the 2 companies needing to work together. Fortunately, all that worked out well and the assembler got the answers needed for their final quote to the OEM.
Because we have an extensive network of manufacturing companies we can find appropriate capabilities very quickly. Occasionally we can draw on that network for referrals to new capabilities, if needed. Many of these companies have engineering and design skills that can be employed, even if their company is not chosen. As shown in the above example we can also coordinate work between suppliers in order to give the buyer an improved answer. All this is available to you as well. We are just a phone call away: (513) 489-552 for more information: