A lot of machine shops may say they specialize in on-time delivery, but not many will show you the numbers to prove it. At KT Tech, we use ERP software to track our on-time delivery rate, and we’re sitting at 98% over the past three years.
How are we able to meet our goals so consistently? Read on to learn how we enable our customers’ success with on-time delivery.
Strict Schedule Management
Some shops are guessing when they give you a delivery date, but at our shop, we prioritize precise delivery scheduling.
Our ERP, ProShop, allows us to fully visualize our current capacity. It shows us a complete list of projects and their status, demonstrating which jobs are nearing their due date. It also accounts for outside processing in laying out due dates to make sure jobs leave our shop in time for that outside processing. All of this information allows us to accurately forecast the availability of our CNC precision machine services.
With these accurate projections, we can effectively avoid “overtime all the time,” a common practice for many machine shops. This approach allows us to reserve overtime for critical situations, ultimately providing better service for our customer base overall.
Risk Assessment During Quoting
We love sending quotes as fast as possible. But we still always make sure we check on a few risk factors before we send quotes back.
Stock availability: We ensure that stock availability is confirmed before providing a customer quote. Inaccurate assumptions about stock levels can lead to significant delays and cause the shop to fall behind schedule before production even begins—something we strive to avoid.
Special tooling requirements: Estimators can't always recall every tooling option available offhand. Therefore, before finalizing a quote, we always verify the availability of any special tools required for the job. This ensures that, like with stock availability, we avoid falling behind schedule before production even starts.
Process difficulty: While it might be tempting to assume that no process poses a challenge for our shop, we recognize that such overconfidence can lead to delays. Instead, we accurately assess the time required for complex parts and build in additional time as needed. Our priority is to ensure that our customers receive high-quality parts on time. If we identify any design-for-manufacturing improvements that could expedite the project, we will proactively discuss these with the customer to enhance the overall efficiency and outcome.
Schedule check: Utilizing our ERP system, we continuously monitor our schedule to determine machine availability for the parts we're quoting. Since machines are the largest bottleneck we encounter, a thorough understanding of their availability is crucial for providing accurate lead times. For example, before confirming availability for our CNC turn-mill services, we always double-check to ensure scheduling accuracy.
Candid Communication
One of the most challenging aspects of candid communication is knowing when to say no. Early on, our enthusiasm led us to say ‘yes’ to nearly every request, which often resulted in tight deadlines and late nights. To avoid this, we now focus on accepting a manageable volume of work that we can deliver without undue stress, as we prioritize timely and quality delivery.
While we maintain a strong 98% on-time delivery rate, we acknowledge that projects may face delays due to unforeseen issues like machine breakdowns. When these situations arise, we promptly inform our customers as soon as we anticipate a delay. This proactive approach allows them to adjust their plans as needed, and often, customers appreciate the opportunity to collaborate on finding a solution or extending the deadline.
Let Us Deliver Your Next Project On Time
Contact us today to discuss your upcoming project. At our California machine shop, we prioritize clear and honest communication in every step of the process. We are committed to manufacturing your parts efficiently and cost-effectively, while maintaining our strong track record of on-time delivery.
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