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Smiths are experts in
providing complete supply solutions that are tailored to a
customers unique requirements. We offer a complete range
of supply services starting with a simple "one order at a time" scenario
right through to full "Supplier Managed Inventory" (SMI). All of our
customers are different and we know that what is right for one isn't
necessarily right for another. Flexibility is, of course, key to
supplying our customers in the way that is right for them.
Most of our customers start of buying from
us "one order at a time" and indeed many continue to buy from us in this
way every day. This method of supply is the simplest, you contact us,
ask us for a price and delivery quotation and we then supply as agreed.
For many smaller, niche, customers this is all that they need and the
main benefit they get is access to our ex-stock range of
materials and
services. However, some customers need more from
us.
The biggest problem with "one order at a
time" supply is that even we don't have an infinite amount of
stock. Many materials, particularly special alloys, can only be
efficiently stocked against known customer demand. We use complex
planning algorithms to predict demand and ensure we have enough
material in stock (and on order with our suppliers) to cover most
eventualities, but we can only use known demand patterns to do this.
Some customers have unique material
requirements. These can be unique special alloys or unique consumption
patterns (or both). In these cases, to ensure ongoing supply, we have to
set up supply contracts that guarantee certain levels of supply. But for some customers we go even
further.
Using our state-of-the-art computer
system we are able to install a system into a customer's premises that
moves responsibility for raw material inventory management over to us. This
Supplier Managed Inventory (SMI) system dramatically improves supply
chain efficiency and can lead to huge cost savings for a customer.
Importantly, the customer still retains control of the stocking
parameters but all other functions (even including the physical location
of the stock if required) are moved over to us. (Click
here for more information...)
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