Here, let me start for you... How about:
"Bullshit! You're not using Just-In-Time techniques, they're all about minimising special order time to improve factory efficiency and customer satisfaction! Go and read Taiichi Ohno's book! What you're doing is minimising your inventory costs at the expense of customer satisfaction, the usual term for that is 'cheapskating your way to bankrupcy!' If _you're_ not prepared to absorb the costs of having the parts I want on the shelf when I want them, I'll buy them off someone who is."
big
[threadjack]
So right. I see many manufacturers going to this type of system and running into problems with customers when a component breaks or malfunctions, expectedly or unexpectedly. I've seen the manufacturer expect
the customer to keep on-hand inventory of wear and critical components. In some cases this may be wise advice, but mostly this is complete shit. The customer should be keeping
their own product on the shelves and not tying up capital and warehouse space to maintain an inventory of parts to operate their production line.
I've read Ohno, learned my 5S BS, and taken the Six Sigma courses (isn't this shit common sense?). Everything looks great in theory but it is executed poorly in a bottom-line driven, squeeze every last penny out of inventory to make up for shitty earnings this quarter, marketplace. Companies are driving their customers away to those companies and distributers that have focused on availability and customer service. Don't get me wrong, there are some lean companies that operate successfully, but many, as you said, "cheapskate their way to bankruptcy".
If you want
discuss rant further, we can continue in PM or move to NMC.
[/threadjack]
umm... on topic: Glad you got everything straightened out. Sorry my reply may have seemed a little unsympathetic, I'm just a little jaded from having to deal with this stuff at work and for my toys.
