Field Notes

To reduce waste we must first SEE IT.

One of the common misconceptions about Value Added Engineering is that it is focused solely on trying to make products at a lower cost. That is one of the goals; but more importantly is a drive to improve functionality and quality while maintaining current cost.

A safe work environment is a productive one. Application of the safety standards in place at Field results in fewer accidents, lower workers compensation costs, less down time, lower repair costs, and less time training new people taking the place of an injured team member.

Why would someone in HR or IT or Accounting need to know about fasteners? Well, at Field, we want all of our team members to have, at a minimum, a basic understanding of fasteners and fastening even in those functional areas that do not deal with fasteners on a regular basis because that is the business Field is in.

Not having a good handle on your inventory needs can lead to excess and slow moving inventory. Without proper inventory management one can watch their inventory overhead slowly climb out of control.

The sky is clear, the sun is hot. The thermometer in the shade of the foreman’s tent reads 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Mamadou, a local Congolese laborer swings his makeshift pick ax at a large stone trying to dislodge a ribbon of Tin trapped inside.

Workflow process. In simple terms, it’s all of the actions needed to turn raw material into a finished/sellable product. But is there only one way to create a finished/sellable product? No, of course not. There are always different ways to obtain the design goal. I like to use this analogy. How many different methods can be used to turn a wet sponge into a dry sponge?

Field has been in the news a lot lately. Field is a distributor of fasteners and other ‘C’ commodities to the OEM market. They are the best in the industry at providing ongoing cost reduction through both technical support services and inventory management systems.

Fasteners are often the very last item that is considered when reviewing a new product design when they should actually be one of the first.

Fasteners are relatively low cost components compared to other products purchasing professionals, production, and engineering teams manage at manufacturing plants. However, they can be very costly, across functional areas, if they are not thoughtfully and strategically handled.

Fasteners remind me of that kid at camp who does all of the work: puts out the fire, makes sure there’s plenty bug spray packed for the hike, and patches holes in the canoe. This kid carries the load and is happy to get up every day and do it… matter of fact, she likes it! But, for whatever reason, this kid gets ZERO recognition.

While the concepts and benefits of Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) have been relevant for years, both inventory management providers and manufacturers struggle to identify the ROI associated with VMI programs.