How do you profit when your manufacturer sticks to a process?

In the previous article we compared process to a map — which gives not unlike functions than those a process does. So now let us imagine that we follow a path after the person who carries its topography in mind. For some reason, we are made to continue our journey on our own. What now if we were never given a map? We find ourselves pretty lost, which shows otherwise if all is written down — where to turn, to whom to go and where is our place. With a map the project is monitored and executed according to an agreed schedule. What a client receives, however, knowing we have such a map, is that their investment is well managed.

But before the pecuniary advantage comes, there rises something far more precious, which we all chase when doing business.

Process cushions business

The phrase most true in the manufacturing sector. When it comes to electronic devices manufacturing, though, right by 'thank you' and 'sorry' stands the third magical word, which is: 'reliability'. That entails repeatability which is guaranteed only when we are sure that in case of emergency the company we work with knows what to do. Figuring the problem out is the last thing any client would like to hear when, for example, the purchasing of components occurred to be fallible — out of unpredictable causes, like: weather, factory fire, political crises, etc. A simple thing, but if the procedure enables us to make a smooth turn to  an alternative supplier, the case might never be heard of for the client.

Security is everything here.

"Given that our development projects are based on time-and-material agreements," says Joanna Marzec, Value Chain Director at VECTOR BLUE HUB, "when the client pays straightforward for the hours spent on their project, they want to skip the risk of prolonging those hours by pure randomness of events. This can be prevented by nothing but a process."

Then we can say that the role of the process for the client is to give them safety of investment.

Another key thing,  ensuring customer safety, is certainty that the final product will be delivered on time, compliant  and on cost.  The above is protected by milestones of the process, regulates its flow allowing for the client to control and audit what is going on inside their projects. This kind of transparency builds trust in business.

Process repays in time and money

To both of the sides: client and producer. Each side dreams about nothing but the optimal scenario for the project to unfold and finish. Financial advantage comes as the consequential part of the whole planning.

A process works for:

• strengthening the relationships with stakeholders through reliability
• better management of resources and its utilization
• measurement of the work done
• improving work efficiency

The client should be enabled to peep into each of the points above. Based on our 30 years of production experience, when the process of manufacturing already counted many turnarounds, we made it to collect the portfolio of: suppliers, cooperative labs, universities and other clients. These are the partnerships born out of the system of work.

Moreover, throughout the cycles, we know that the realization needs a specific amount of material and time to finish the upcoming project. Then again, the company with years of production experience,  after all turnarounds, gages exactly the necessary input and reduce costs; experience, thus, results in the competitive pricing.

Work flow control ends up with space for improving. If the client meets a company with a process, they receive the simple message saying: That is a learning organization. A company develops because it measures, and after every turnaround it becomes smarter, agiler and more experienced.

"Even if a process entails changes, and we hate changes, it brings profits in the end. It says to the people who want to do business with us that we have stepped on this path so many times that little might surprise us. That's a pretty saying to get from a manufacturer, isn't it?" says Joanna.

We introduce you to learn more about the processes we work with in the contract manufacturing services section of our website.