Your requirements on UNEF thread gages and ACME thread taps would be of ongoing nature. You need to source them regularly as these are tools that undergo a considerable amount of wear and tear. They need to be replaced periodically. The frequency at which you are required to replace these tools will depend very much on your production cycle and production intensity. You will be able to continue with your production cycle smoothly only when you have adequate supply of these threading tools and inspection tools.
Careful planning and scheduling of the ACME thread taps and thread gauge sourcing calendar is very crucial or else you will be constantly running into issues with the shortage of supply of these tools. What are the important factors to keep in mind when sourcing these tools and how to keep the supply continuous without running out of stock? Here are a few tips to help you plan your sourcing calendar.
Based on the past data, you must gain clarity into your requirement. You must know the actual quantity for every production cycle and how frequently you need to restock your inventory. Only when you have a clear understanding of how many units are required for each cycle and how frequently each cycle runs you will be able to place the order.
You need to spot a supplier that is capable of matching your requirements and meet your order volume. If they are not able to meet the order volume then you need to look for a different supplier or else you will be unnecessarily investing in trouble. Your manufacturer will require adequate lead time. Based on the complexity of your requirements and based on their production capacity, they will need enough time to manufacture the tools. You need to allow your manufacturer this time or else, you would run into quality issues.
Your requirements should be matched with the manufacturing capabilities of the manufacturer. Based on this you must schedule your sourcing calendar. Ideally, you must stay at least two cycles ahead of your sourcing calendar or else you will not be able to ensure a continuous supply of these tools. Why is it recommended to stay two cycles ahead of your requirements or production cycle? During the manufacturing process anything could go wrong and there could be delays in the delivery of the orders. Even the most efficient manufacturer could run into such issues despite taking all the precautions. There are certain things which are not within one’s control. It could be due to the shortage of raw materials required for the manufacturing process, it could be due to labour issues or it could simply be issues or delays in the shipping. To ensure that your production cycle is not disrupted because of any of these, you need to stay ahead of your requirements so that even if there are delays you will still have adequate supply of thread gauges and thread taps.
