Tackling Supply Chain Issues

While many things seem to be returning to normal, the long-reaching effects of the pandemic and the shutdown of the economy, and the re-alignment of production facilities are still being felt. Compound supply issues with staffing issues, and you’ve got to be far more than reactive to survive in today’s economy, you have to be proactive, even in the Controls Industry. 

Plan Ahead When Creating Plans 

Lead time was always a consideration when creating plans for a new structure or redesigning the system within an existing structure, but now there are extra layers involved. Manufacturing, shipping, and procurement are all far behind schedule. Estimating how far behind current vendors are involves honest, two-communication with them. Working these adjusted time frames into plans may take projects far further out than initially anticipated. 

It’s not just manufacturing and shipping, base materials like copper are in short supply. Add that to electrical components, like motors and compressors, and microchips, and planning ahead become a necessity. When these things happen, it might be time to involve some creative thinking to meet deadlines, while also compensating for the backups along the process. As long as demand is constant, those industries that have fallen behind will fight to catch up. Until then, the ability to obtain products in a timely manner to meet schedules will be impacted. 

Prepare for Repairs 

Unfortunately, the days are long gone that when something breaks, after a swift call to a trusted distributor, a part is delivered in the next day or two in order to resolve the issue. If a trusted distributor can’t deliver, it might be time to have more than one phone number stored for parts. Identifying vendors that have parts availability may be just what's needed to continue to meet schedules. 

Being proactive with current contracts can help avoid unplanned repairs. Preparing for and having parts on hand for certain repairs that recur regularly or evaluating aging materials and keeping inventory in stock in anticipation of breakage can help maintain contracts with very little disruption. While maintaining overhead in parts may not be a standard, in these unique times, it’s becoming a necessity. 

Tackling the Times 

At South Florida Controls, we are doing our best to stay ahead of the curve. While we have had to adjust times and schedules, we are also forming stronger connections with our suppliers. By making sure we have an accurate assessment of the schedule of product availability, we can plan around delays and deficiencies. We’re also ordering well in advance, increasing our storage of materials, and making sure we have products in stock to make things happen. Keeping our clients happy and our plans on schedule is our priority, no matter the state of the market.