Production is running - how are the drawing parts delivered and stored?

You can choose to have your drawing parts delivered at once and keep them in stock in your warehouse or order them later and have them delivered over a longer period of time. Or you can opt for a third option: stocking at your local supplier in Switzerland.

Why should you opt for a bonded warehouse?  

It is worth taking a close look at your stock levels, as they have a major impact on your business.

If you tie up a large part of your liquidity in goods that are waiting to be used in the warehouse, you will have fewer funds available for investment in production. This becomes particularly challenging with large and expensive drawing parts.

Large inventories can also cause further problems: Drawing parts require storage space, which is needed for operations, and there is a risk of damage if they are not stored properly or are moved frequently.

On the other hand, missing drawing parts can cause you to lose customers who can't or won't wait for the finished product.

In other words, it's a balancing act that needs to be carefully planned.

Risks of stock minimisation  

When it comes to drawing parts with long lead times, foresight is essential. Although minimising stock and the just-in-time model can save costs, it can also lead to a complete standstill if you do not plan well. The pros and cons should be carefully weighed up, especially for components that take a long time to manufacture or need to be transported from the East.

An article on Jernindustri.dk describes how several car manufacturers had to close their factories in 2021 due to component shortages. Those responsible had not taken into account the long lead times for electronics and chips and suddenly found themselves without supplies.

If you opt for just-in-time delivery of your parts, you should definitely consider the risks involved.

Stockholding agreements - the golden mean  

There is an alternative to the two delivery options: a stockholding agreement with your supplier.

If you choose a supplier who is able to tie up your goods on site in Switzerland, you minimise the risk of production downtime and also avoid tying up your liquidity with goods that are just waiting to be used in the warehouse.

A warehousing agreement can vary from supplier to supplier. For example, small suppliers generally do not have the necessary storage space or the means to store large quantities of goods over a very long period of time. And warehousing requirements also vary from company to company.

At Bossard, for example, a supply commitment contract usually looks like this: The storage contract specifies when the goods are to be delivered to Bossard and for what period (e.g. 12 months) from the delivery date the goods will be stored with us. You decide when your goods are to be delivered within this period (the first delivery should, however, generally take place within the first 3 months). In this way, you can have your processed items delivered within a few days and only pay when you order the goods for delivery from us.

The goal is a smooth delivery and production process that makes sense for your entire company and its future development.