Just-in-Time got you in a bind?
As the pandemic has grown and enveloped our lives, we all continue to struggle with yesterday’s lagging issues and each new day's unsettling health and economic news. It seems just trying to look further ahead than tomorrow is a challenge all on its own. This balance of learning from the past, keeping on top of today’s latest issues, and trying to make plans for a future without a roadmap is stressful, to say the least. As any new parent eventually finds out, there is no manual. So goes our “approach” to COVID 19. We will all do our best and will survive, adjusting together to the new “normal”.
As the re-allocation of transportation priorities for essential products came to pass during this pandemic, there was also uncertainty amongst companies if they should, or would, run any time soon. To add to the distress, many companies found themselves sitting on canceled or delayed JIT orders. Or worse–working backward trying to fulfill those ever-important orders you couldn’t fill yesterday. Nothing worse than losing orders, or not fulfilling a contract based on a glitch in the supply chain during the time we need it to remain viable.
Many issues well beyond a pandemic can disrupt supply chains, so make sure you’re ready to act. Always keep your options open, remain flexible to change, and develop solid relationships with ALL your suppliers. That includes those secondary sources you may not have developed good relationships with yet. Keep them interested (orders!!) and engaged (technical assistance?) and looking out for your company’s best interest. That supplier may be the one who can fill that last critical part you need to finish an order. The world is in a constant state of flux these days, so make a true effort to partner with everyone. Now more than ever, we need to focus on domestic sourcing and redundancy in our supply chain systems.
What is your POST INCIDENT GAME PLAN and how Onex can help?
Materials: We maintain two (2) large Pennsylvania-based distribution centers serving customers throughout the Northeast and Mid-West USA shipping and servicing all industrial locations throughout the country. We welcome your inquiry, even for those items you may not normally purchase from Onex. Our numerous resources allow us to provide exact product replacement, or an acceptable substitute if required, and with your approval. Brick, Castable, Plastics, Rams, Mortars, and Ceramic Fiber are all available through our facilities. We will also assist our customers on any material requalifications required to make a change (samples, technical data, direct technical support), so feel free to ask.
Stocking: As alluded to above, JIT customers/JIT suppliers may require more assurance in supplies of key parts, both in the number of suppliers as well as the number of pieces. Since the months ahead are uncertain, let us know if Onex can stock a specific product that will be closer to your plant. We can create necessary redundancies to give you some peace of mind.
Pre-cast and mold-making capabilities: With extensive casting and furnace capacity, we can help get you out of a spot or become a regular supplier. The Onex pre-cast shop includes mold-making capabilities as well. A must for quick turnarounds.
Trucking: The above three (3) features are no good without a way to move it (a continuing issue of the pandemic). Customers are certainly encouraged to use their preferred logistics vendor, but Onex can also offer delivery services via our dedicated, professional CDL drivers and newer trucks. The flexibility in our scheduling is a big feature of our trucking services. Request a quote.
FINALLY: If you just have a technical question or want to run something by our experts at Onex, inc., all you have to do is to ask!
