Simple Solutions That Work! Issue 16

the US. However, suppliers that invest in domestic solutions to manufacture their products not only sends a strong signal of commitment, but also greatly mitigates the impact of unreliable and costly logistics, sudden supply chain disruptions, and other problems that can manifest in shortages and higher prices. Agile and flexible manufacturing - Toledo transformation from a coatings only plant to a multipurpose manufacturing plant has helped HAI customers to obtain more products made by HAI in the US. 4.CREATIVE ENGINEERING AND R&D Sometimes a commercially available replacement product may not be a feasible solution. In this case, a true solutions oriented supplier puts their creative effort toward creating, reformulating, and implementing new products and that can address the crisis at-hand. This current crisis has sparked a new sense of urgency in which our chemists and engineers have benchmarked, screened, and qualified many new raw materials that are more cost effective and feasible, which have be used to create new products that exhibit the same or sometimes improved characteristics as the original products. Reengineering current technology by adjusting or modifying their raw materials make up is another approach to providing sensible solutions to foundries. All of this work requires an intimate knowledge of the interdependency between the base chemistry and the practical application know how and all the while maintaining a close collaborative relationship with the customer at the implementation/ adopting phase, which is why the fifth action in partnering with customers is one of the most important manifestations of a solutions oriented supplier. On the other hand, occasionally the solution to a product shortage is the adoption of a new process, which includes varying products, when combined together provides the appropriate solution. In this instance, relying on a reliable applications engineering function is of vital importance in the implementation of customized solutions. 5. PARTNERING WITH OUR CUSTOMERS Implementation of a solution requires much more than merely bringing a new or replacement product to the customer. Without the proper support at this phase, most of the time, the new product delivers more stress to the Contact: AARON KABOFF Aaron.Kaboff@ha-group.com customer, thus the implementation of the solution by collaborating with the customer is just as important to the overall success. The ability to test in a suitable applications lab by first using the customer’s specific requirements and conditions, and then supporting the implementation in production, improves the chance that the solution sought after is met. Many times this added value is not taken into account, but this is yet another example of the commitment of the supplier to ensure that client conditions and requests are met. CONCLUSION Many of the challenges that the foundry industry has faced in 2021 will persist into 2022. This past year has demonstrated the resilience of many foundries in extreme adverse conditions. The solutions to today’s shortages in products and disruption in supply chains may stay with us for the foreseeable future. Finding and partnering with suppliers that truly live the mission “Solutions Oriented” is one of the most solid decisions to ensure that your business is not only in a solid position to not overcome current and future difficulties, but also to turn them to opportunities. 15 FLEXIBLE MANUFACTURING & ENGINEERING TRENDS