Outdoor and transportation equipment manufacturer
Outdoor and transportation equipment manufacturer
Bufab is the global C-parts provider to this major manufacturer. We supply over 500 different components to the company’s major production facility in eastern Europe. In the disruption of the pandemic, Bufab had to act fast to secure the company’s manufacturing operation and provide peace of mind in the tough business environment.
Challenge
With the arrival of the global COVID crisis in early 2020, customer orders suddenly dropped, and the company was forced to temporarily stop production at the Polish factory, right at the start of the high season. But with orders for C-parts already placed, they needed a solution to avoid ending up with huge amount of unnecessary stock.
Later in the year, sales started picking up rapidly, and the company had to instantly return to full production. A secure supply of the necessary C-parts was needed at very short notice to meet the new demand.
Later in the year, sales started picking up rapidly, and the company had to instantly return to full production. A secure supply of the necessary C-parts was needed at very short notice to meet the new demand.
Approach
When the crisis came, we acted quickly and cancelled all incoming orders – even compensating suppliers for the lost business. This protected the customer from taking liability for unneeded stock.
As the customer's situation improved, we adapted along with them and returned to the same suppliers to acquire the needed C-parts in time—in higher quantities and with even faster shipping. A team of experts from both companies collaborated to coordinate the work and secure the essential parts at extremely short notice.
As the customer's situation improved, we adapted along with them and returned to the same suppliers to acquire the needed C-parts in time—in higher quantities and with even faster shipping. A team of experts from both companies collaborated to coordinate the work and secure the essential parts at extremely short notice.
Result
Thanks to the actions taken, the company could keep up with the renewed customer demand. By the end of 2020, sales had doubled compared to the previous year, and any C-parts-related disruptions to production had been completely avoided. 100 percent of parts deliveries were on time, and accurate forecasting continued to ensure the consistent supply of parts despite supply chain issues.