You want to build a robot. But not some cute little walking robot.
Patty Rasmussen
Recent Posts
August 08, 2018
Submitting an RFQ to a Supplier? How to Avoid Quote Fatigue
If you have been involved in global contract manufacturing (CM) for more than a few months you will inevitably hear the phrase, “Quote Fatigue.” Quote Fatigue occurs when a prospect submits an RFQ (Request for Quote) to a manufacturer for pricing — then another, then another, then another, without the manufacturer securing any new business.
Few things help a project — any project — more than objectivity. It's a great ability to view a task, whether editing a paragraph or designing a product completely free of emotion, but few people have that skill when it comes to their own work. That's why most companies use a project manager to guide the new product development process along.
Whether you are brand new to international shipping or just need a refresher on the ins and outs of Incoterms, we have you covered. International freight a complex business, so it's important to understand the industry lingo, associated risks and costs, and how it all affects you.
Are you looking for ways to reduce costs, streamline ordering and ensure that you never run out of product? Uh... Is this a trick question? Of course you are!
One tried and true solution could be adopting Vendor-Managed Inventory (VMI), an arrangement between your company and your supplier to automatically replenish stock.
It's a simple...
July 19, 2018
A Basic Guide to EC Motors: Is it Time to Switch?
Electronically commutated (EC) motors, sometimes called brushless DC (BLDC) motors, are a boon to the refrigeration industry that relies on continuously running motors. These quiet wonders can offer efficiencies in more ways than just energy savings. If you haven’t done it already, we can give you 7 excellent reasons to consider switching to EC...
There's a lot of talk about tariffs and trade wars and what affect they MAY have on the global economy. Those things are incredibly important, of course. At the same time, if someone knew something was CERTAIN to affect their business and did nothing to prepare for it, they'd be considered incompetent, wouldn't they?
Toolmaking is one of the most critical and expensive items on the manufacturing to-do list. And because your tool is the basis of your part or product, every decision you make about how your tool is made is, by default, a decision about the quality of your product.
Anything that significant is worth understanding in detail, but how much do you...
July 10, 2018
How to Implement a Successful Global Sourcing Strategy
I have this image of a sourcing manager talking to a supplier with the conversation going something like this, “I don’t have extruded aluminum right now, but what I do have are a very particular set of skills; skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. If you let me have the aluminum...
July 05, 2018
Comparing Shaded Pole, PSC and EC Motors
We write a lot about electronically commutated motors, sometimes called EC Motors or ECM. But what's the difference between EC motors and other traditionally used motors like shaded pole motors or permanent split capacitor (PSC) motors? How much will those differences cost you and more importantly, save you? Let's spend a few minutes comparing...
