Is Vendor-Managed Inventory the Right Solution for You?
If you order the same parts week after week or month after month, you’re probably a great candidate for our Vendor-Managed Inventory (VMI) program. With VMI, the parts you need are always available, so you can replenish your stock and meet demand while saving time, money, and frustration.
Let’s explore how Vendor-Managed Inventory works at Sweeney Metal Fabricators.
Vendor Managed Inventory: A Surefire Solution for Manufacturing Customers
Rather than ordering 10 parts every month, for example, place one order for 120 parts over the course of the year. We’ll store your parts in our warehouse and ship them to you as needed. Provided the part is revision stable (i.e., no further design changes are required), VMI can help you save significant time and money.
Benefit: Save money
When you preorder your revision-stable parts annually, we’re able to manufacture those parts in larger batches. To use the same example, instead of machining 10 parts at a time, our precision machine shop makes all 120 parts at once. This approach dramatically reduces setup time, which helps lower your overall manufacturing costs.
Benefit: Save time
With VMI, you benefit from the instant availability of your parts, meaning no longer-than-ideal machining lead times. We can proactively ship your parts out on a schedule or hold them in our inventory until you request a shipment. (Bonus: you’ll also save time by generating just one purchase order instead of many.)
Benefit: Pay as you go
Upfront ordering doesn’t require an upfront payment. As long as your total purchase order is paid (and parts delivered) within the 12-month term of your VMI, you can pay for each shipment as you go.
Using the example of 120 parts per year, you’d have all 120 parts “in stock” in our precision machine shop’s warehouse. If you requested a monthly shipping schedule of 10 parts per delivery, you’d simply pay a prorated amount for those 10 parts at the time of each shipment.
Benefit: Customize your order volume
Say you'll need 10 parts in January, five in February, and 30 in March. We can accommodate those variations. We only ask that you give us 30 days' notice of any volume adjustments so we can ensure accurate packing and delivery.
Get Started with Our VMI Program
Anyone can request VMI for an all-new or recurring parts order. We often recommend VMI to customers when we notice that they’re placing repeat orders on a regular basis.
If you submit a Request for Quote (RFQ) indicating a repeat order, our precision machine shop will provide you with two estimates: one quote will outline the one-off cost for machining and delivery. The second quote will outline the VMI option, so you can decide which makes the most sense for your business.
Here at Sweeney, we offer more than custom metal fabrication and CNC machining services. We offer solutions that save you time, money, and stress and help you provide your customers with a truly stellar experience.
Start today!
Get a no-obligation quote when you mention VMI in your RFQ. We deliver most quotes in fewer than 24 hours!
