rockfish
Titanium
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2006
- Location
- Munith, Michigan
I have a customer that orders some 304 stainless steel pipe in various lengths and sizes, requiring pipe threads and some machining on the ends. The lengths are almost always at least 40" long, sometimes up to 62".
Obviously, it's far cheaper to buy an entire bar, rather than have a piece cut to the length I need, the problem is.........I sit on that bar for months, or in this case a year, until they order another piece. It seems to me, that I never actually make money on the part, because the first piece we make just barely covers the cost of the material.
This really wouldn't be an issue if it was material that you could use for other products, or if the orders came regularly, but I NEVER have any need for stainless steel pipe otherwise.
Is there any positive way to look at this, or is this a no win situation ??? Of course, if I receive an order for other parts to use up the bar, then I will make out OK. Would you just order the EXACT amount of material, even at higher cost, to avoid setting on a bar that you may or may not use at a later date ???
Frank
Obviously, it's far cheaper to buy an entire bar, rather than have a piece cut to the length I need, the problem is.........I sit on that bar for months, or in this case a year, until they order another piece. It seems to me, that I never actually make money on the part, because the first piece we make just barely covers the cost of the material.
This really wouldn't be an issue if it was material that you could use for other products, or if the orders came regularly, but I NEVER have any need for stainless steel pipe otherwise.
Is there any positive way to look at this, or is this a no win situation ??? Of course, if I receive an order for other parts to use up the bar, then I will make out OK. Would you just order the EXACT amount of material, even at higher cost, to avoid setting on a bar that you may or may not use at a later date ???
Frank