We all know what the downturn in the economy has had on the bottom line. One of the most notable effects has been how purchasing managers switch to different vendors with cheaper products. But the question that comes up is: Do the new materials really cost less in the long-term?
When a new vendor is chosen, there will inevitably be a change in the material itself. Does your new product have the same durability as what you are used to getting? Steven Toth, a Health and Safety Coordinator at Aero Instruments and Avionics in North Tonawanda says, “while a low price is nice, if it doesn’t work or has to be repeatedly replaced, it’s not a good value.” He purchases plastic duro-tags from Emedco because the tags don’t need frequent replacing. In fact, he hasn’t had to replace his eyewash inspection tags for 3 years!
Work with your purchasing and quality assurance teams when making these decisions. The time and money your company spends to research and try out new vendors may not make it cost-effective in the long-term.
-BDust
