Shopsmith Forums

dusty wrote:There shall be a "lack of parts" when management fails to anticipate sales, when purchasing cannot locate the parts required to meet production demands, when purchasing cannot locate a source who can produce the parts/assemblies in the quantities required, when purchasing cannot requisition parts (for a host of reasons - at least one being financial).

Most of these are by-products of the "just-in-time" inventory guidelines being used today. Don't stock it unless you need it now. Inventory is an asset that becomes a liability when not used.

It is really hard to maximize production while minimizing inventory.

jsburger wrote:

ERLover wrote:@ JB>SS has control over their parts. They are at the mercy of the supply chain for the PP guts (i.e. Technatool). Are not PP DIY upgrades in the same back order status as full up head stocks? That is Technatool! SS can't build or repair Power Pro's or supply DIY upgrade kits in a timely manner if they can't get parts from Technatool. I suspect Technatool can't make product fast enough to supply the demand. That is a good thing to a point and good because it is a great product.

I am curious. How do you see the lack of parts?

JB, or is the MS not able to purchase enough at a time for them to be important to the MS? We dont know how good/important there relationship to each other is, and who has the upper control hand. SS might be just a drop in the bucket to them. My nephew the food chemist, company, has contracts with Frito Lay for some of there products they produce/develope for them, he is 2nd in command of the RnD department, he sez they are a HUGE PITA, want more share of overall profits, want supreme service ect, because they are so big, compared to other clients. Harley Davidson is like that also to there suppliers.

Technatool is not Frito Lay. Where else have you seen their DVR motor except on their own lathes and the SS? I suspect Technatool reached out to SS to get enough volume to make their motors profitable and be able to manufacture them. Now SS is selling like hot cakes and Technatool can't keep up. Did we have this problem 6 or 7 years ago?

JPG wrote:Did we have this problem 6 or 7 years ago?

With the PP? - No.

With just about everything else? - Pretty much only worse and it continues today.

JIT - Great for large operations with steady schedules. Small operations, a potential problem.

jsburger wrote:

Ed in Tampa wrote:

dusty wrote:Shopsmith doors remaining open should not be an issue. They have been selling PowerPro Upgrades and Mark 7s so fast that they cannot keep parts in stock. The financial crisis appears to be an issue of the past!er

Dusty I love how you look at things! The perpetual optimist! You go guy!

I saw the lack of parts in a completely different light. I wonder which of us is right?

SS has control over their parts. They are at the mercy of the supply chain for the PP guts (i.e. Technatool). Are not PP DIY upgrades in the same back order status as full up head stocks? That is Technatool! SS can't build or repair Power Pro's or supply DIY upgrade kits in a timely manner if they can't get parts from Technatool. I suspect Technatool can't make product fast enough to supply the demand. That is a good thing to a point and good because it is a great product.

I am curious. How do you see the lack of parts?