Repair Parts Debate

[rrich]

Permit me to relay a conversation that I had with a small manufacturer at a trade show in Las Vegas.

I think that it was the National Hardware Show, as much as 6 or 8 years ago.
(The NHS is aimed at buyers for retail establishments. SWMBO likes to go to LV and the show keeps me out of the casino during daylight.)
I don't remember what the product was being displayed. The product was one of those that fall into the category of, "Oh that's neat and I've never seen one before. Unfortunately a week after the show you've forgotten the product because you don't need one."

My trade show badge had me coded as a small store (really cabinet shop) but it really was more 'Daytime Entertainment'.

We were talking about the product and the difficulty or bring the product to market. The inventor / owner / booth person was very excited and told me, "We have factory time scheduled in China and we'll be able to deliver the product to stores just before the start of the holiday shopping season."

As I moved on and the more that I thought about the conversation, this whole "China factory time" comment caused the great awaking. In China, they set up the factory to build, they build and then repeat for the next product. By the time that you or I need a repair part, the factory has built many other products. There is no such thing as left over parts. There is no such thing as correcting any kind of errors. The whole concept is that the consumer does a buy, use, discard and buy again cycle.

It is a harsh reality mates.

[Robson Valley]

Sometimes described in inventory as "just in time."

[crowie]

Sometimes described in inventory as "just in time."

J.I.T. only works with proper planning, projections and communications between purchasing, manufacturing, stores and vendors....

Too often companies who quote J.I.T. work more so on the TRIPLE "P" method - PATHETICALLY POOR PLANNING or words similar.....

Apologies in advance... an old hobby horse....

[Robson Valley]

PPP is an apt description.
I believe, devoutly, that some companies don't even tool up until they have an embarassing
number of orders. No need to look offshore for those.

[rrich]

the TRIPLE "P" method - PATHETICALLY POOR PLANNING or words similar.....

..

A friend had a coffee mug inscribed

"PI$$ POOR PLANNING on your part
does not constitute an emergency on my part"

[crowie]

A friend had a coffee mug inscribed

"PI$$ POOR PLANNING on your part
does not constitute an emergency on my part"

I had the same in a poster in the wall in my office..... the engineers didn't like it BUT the tech's loved it.....