Supply chains in manufacturing are multi-faceted and sometimes quite complex. Their success lies in the skillful navigation of collaboration between manufacturers and their suppliers and customers.
In the metalworking industry, suppliers and customers sit on opposite ends of the supply chain spectrum, with fabrication and assembly solution providers in the middle. This leaves the fabrication providers with two partnerships to manage, while the other two entities rarely co-mingle.
As disparate as the needs of suppliers and customers might appear to be, they often face similar collaboration challenges, such as access to data, communication barriers, and software incompatibility. Fortunately, metalworking companies can take similar approaches to manage each partnership effectively, benefiting all stakeholders and triggering sustainable organic growth for our industry.
Managing Supplier Relationships
One of the most impactful ways AC Fabrication & Assembly Solutions nurtures positive relationships with suppliers is by integrating their processes into several of our workflows, including procurement and research & development.
We accomplish this by ensuring the supplier has everything they need to help us stay on top of production schedules. For example, we may share real-time data and design files so the supplier is always up-to-date on our needs, allowing us to eliminate guesswork and jump right into collaboration.
Technology also plays a significant role in collaboration. For example, not all companies use the same software, so it’s also critical to collaborate on a robust platform that can work with many different types of files. The platform should also offer data security features that only grant select individuals access to the information, with strict governance protocols in place to protect sensitive data.
Open collaboration with suppliers makes it much easier to leverage their expertise in processes or materials to create higher quality, more cost-effective products and potentially introduce ways of streamlining our fabrication methodology. Additionally, the supplier will have a deeper understanding of our requirements early on, minimizing the chances of identifying problems later in the process and improving our customers’ production scheduling.
This approach also gives us better visibility into the supply chain, improving our ability to track materials, optimize inventory, improve scalability, and identify and solve potential bottlenecks before they can affect operations.
The long-term effects of close collaboration are not only enhanced cost controls and profitability but also the development of strong ties with the supplier based on mutual trust and a genuine interest in one another’s success.
Read More: The Benefits Of Using A One Stop Fabrication Supplier
Building Partnerships With Customers
On the other side of the supply chain spectrum are your customers, who also deserve a strategic approach to developing partnerships that help them feel involved and appreciated, nurturing loyalty with your company.
Successful customer collaborations ensure they’re involved with the manufacturing process from the beginning. They can provide feedback during the design phase and share specific product challenges you can take back to the supplier to help you devise appropriate solution options. Collaborating on product design reviews early can mitigate the risk of issues being raised late in the design process, which can delay production and raise costs.
Involving customers in the process and granting them access to complete, real-time project data will also help them understand the different fabrication techniques, give them a sense of realistic timelines, and manage overall expectations, which allows them to optimize their production scheduling.
Chances are, your supplier and customer use different software to collaborate with you. This is why manufacturers must adopt collaboration platforms that can work with a wide range of file formats. As with suppliers, ensuring seamless collaboration using technology is critical to building transparency and trust while avoiding frustrations that can negatively impact a project.
Naturally, secure customer access to data is critical, just as it is with suppliers. Customers will appreciate that you take their privacy seriously and recognize the importance of only allowing a few key personnel access to sensitive information.
Collaborating fully and openly with customers will help them get higher-quality products sooner. They will reward your efforts by becoming loyal, repeat customers who build your business.
Read More: Creating New Opportunities For Customers
Partner With AC Fabrication & Assembly Solutions For Supply Chain Success
Our team of engineers and fabricators understand the critical need to collaborate with both our suppliers and customers. That’s why we have developed integrated project development processes that nurture seamless cross-platform collaboration with one goal in mind: the successful, efficient delivery of high-quality products that maximize profitability and growth potential.
With AC Fabrication in your corner, you can be assured of a positive working partnership that fulfills your needs and expectations – no matter which side of the supply chain spectrum you lie on.
Contact an AC Fabrication and Assembly Solutions expert at 204-952-1900 or sales@acfabandassembly.com for a custom quote on your next project today!
