Gordon B. Clarke
Banned
- Joined
- May 29, 2010
- Location
- Denmark
Let's forget outsourcing in this particular thread as something done by big companies to increase profit and by buying from counties where labour is cheaper.
I've described outsourcing elsewhere in PM as buying something another place because they have more know-how and can do it better and cheaper than you could yourself. It could also be because you're in a tight spot to meet a delivery time and need help. In other words small companies helping each other out to mutual benefit.
In the part of Denmark (west) where I live this is done by many small companies that know and trust each other. Further east (towards Copenhagen) this isn't so much the case but as to why I don't know for sure.
City slickers?
We have small shops all over (almost always less than 50 or so employees) where some mill, others turn, heat treat, weld, surface treat, stamp, cast, etc. and often in specific types of material. Stainless steel, aluminium, whatever. They are all extrememly good at what they've chosen to specialize in. Some are geared to mass production and others to 1 off or small quantities. As almost all are suppliers and don't have a product of their own then the danger of them stealing customers that want a finished product is minimal. It spreads fast if any try to be too "smart".
Is this kind of thing common in the USA or not? If not it might be worth a try.
I've helped other out when they were in a tight spot and the favour has been returned when I was in a similar situation. This works best when the "cooperating" shops aren't too far from each other but the "knowing somebody that knows somebody" is usually fairly reliable. Who's going to recommend someone that they've had a bad experience with?
Dealing locally will often be easiest but needn't necessarily be the case every time. Even something like which suppliers of materials, tools, equipment give the best service and who sucks? If you can't give a reason for recommending or poo pooing based on own experience then use the Venting thread to bitch
Without turning this thread into a yard sale (in other words don't blow your own horn) who do you know that is worth a mention? Where are they and why are they good? Something similar is done in other threads and often as an answer to a question. If put into some kind of system then more could pull in the same direction instead of willy nilly.
I've described outsourcing elsewhere in PM as buying something another place because they have more know-how and can do it better and cheaper than you could yourself. It could also be because you're in a tight spot to meet a delivery time and need help. In other words small companies helping each other out to mutual benefit.
In the part of Denmark (west) where I live this is done by many small companies that know and trust each other. Further east (towards Copenhagen) this isn't so much the case but as to why I don't know for sure.
City slickers?
We have small shops all over (almost always less than 50 or so employees) where some mill, others turn, heat treat, weld, surface treat, stamp, cast, etc. and often in specific types of material. Stainless steel, aluminium, whatever. They are all extrememly good at what they've chosen to specialize in. Some are geared to mass production and others to 1 off or small quantities. As almost all are suppliers and don't have a product of their own then the danger of them stealing customers that want a finished product is minimal. It spreads fast if any try to be too "smart".
Is this kind of thing common in the USA or not? If not it might be worth a try.
I've helped other out when they were in a tight spot and the favour has been returned when I was in a similar situation. This works best when the "cooperating" shops aren't too far from each other but the "knowing somebody that knows somebody" is usually fairly reliable. Who's going to recommend someone that they've had a bad experience with?
Dealing locally will often be easiest but needn't necessarily be the case every time. Even something like which suppliers of materials, tools, equipment give the best service and who sucks? If you can't give a reason for recommending or poo pooing based on own experience then use the Venting thread to bitch
Without turning this thread into a yard sale (in other words don't blow your own horn) who do you know that is worth a mention? Where are they and why are they good? Something similar is done in other threads and often as an answer to a question. If put into some kind of system then more could pull in the same direction instead of willy nilly.