Why fastener research planning and development is necessary?
With 30 years of credible experience history has shown us that our customers sometimes have a resistance to change. As a result customers don’t want to pay more for new tech, whether it shapes them as more productive, or not. In addition, there is resistance from the manufacturing staff who are used to doing things a certain way.
However, customers are always seeking out new products and markets. And, we discovered that involving Fastener Agencies from the onset is favourable. This because, it ensures that they design around the availability of fasteners in South Africa.
Unfortunately, once fabrication is done locally, it substantially increases pricing! Therefore, when involving FA in the design, it ensures the following:
- Cost effectiveness
- Locally available fasteners which shortens the time to market.
Planning falls separate
Business intelligence is key for us! We have a substantial source of historical data which assists us in planning around our current customer base. We use this historical data, (that is all the buying data) from our customer base to plan the orders. Though, where items are more unique to a specific customer, we engage in forward planning. And, perhaps we will negotiate “calling-off orders” where we are guaranteed the items will be bought, when brought in on special order.
Also, an essential element is planning with our customers on their future orders and business growth. One of our key strengths is an additional stock holding and planning factor of up to 30%, on our highest moving stock lines, in the event of unplanned increases in production orders from our customers. We make it our goal to understand and align with our customers’ production goals and plans. As a result, this lowers the risk of production delays due to insufficient local stock supply, and long lead times from the East.
Our directors attend trade shows, they visit our manufacturing partners in the East, and investigate new technologies on a regular basis. We spend a lot of time with our manufacturing customers to understand their operations, management style, planning and business strategies.
Over the past 13 years we have seen that change happens at a slow pace. And, establishing our relationships from an ownership level to the lower operational and manufacturing levels ensures we react to change proactively. Also, this enables us to offer alternative solutions to our clients!
