How Do You Get The Best Results For Your Business?

14 Feb 2017

As an industry, we have all experienced significant changes over the last decade, from positive effects such as our mining boom through to negative effects such as the Global Financial Crisis.

Today’s ever-changing business landscape demands focus to be on increased levels of reliability, service and back up. Suppliers are better off allocating the majority of their time, resources and money to enriching their business with services that will directly benefit the customer.

As a customer, make sure you are choosing a supplier who will offer you these benefits. A business that puts significant investment in manpower, service and training – all designed to ensure their customers get measurable benefits – will make sure you get the biggest bang for your buck.

When deciding whom to make your next major machinery purchase from, there are four key factors you should consider.

The Service Network

Support and troubleshooting for your manufacturing should ideally be two-fold. Firstly, via phone. Look for a supplier who offers 24/7 phone support to make sure you have readily available support to help you identify and solve any problems in real time. This approach will help reduce costs for you, the customer.

Secondly, with on-site support. For those issues that can’t be rectified over the phone, make sure your supplier has a strong network of specialist technicians who can attend your premises quickly and efficiently. A broken machine can mean some serious lost dollars for you and your business. Buying from a supplier who can minimise any down time will save you money in the long run.

The Maintenance Schedule

Regular scheduled maintenance can save you thousands of dollars – not just in repair work but also in lost productivity. A supplier who is focused on delivering the best for their customers will work with you to customise a regular maintenance, service and support program to give you superior performance and reliability for your machines.

Training Support

Another mistake that can easily be made is to purchase a new piece of equipment without ensuring your employees have the right knowledge to get the most out of it. Nowadays, it isn’t uncommon for suppliers to add another benefit to customers - an onsite training course for machine operators. Ensuring correct training of your personnel enables you to get the maximum results from your machine investments. Find a supplier who wants you to get maximum efficiency from your manufacturing methods.

Spare Parts Availability

A customer-focused supplier will understand that when you need a spare part, you need it right away. Make sure you choose a supplier who offers easy access to ordering, tracking and delivery so that the process is as quick and painless as possible. Ideally, you need a supplier who stocks parts locally – you don’t want to be waiting for something to be shipped in from the far corners of the world.

A supplier who integrates all four of these aspects into their standard practices will help you to reduce your maintenance costs, prevent unplanned machine downtime, be proactive in servicing your machinery and support your business.

In short, find a supplier who has the ability to expand with you.