The Compromise Between Price and Quality

"Hi AIMS Industrial Supplies! I’m looking to replace the [insert material/part] in my [insert machine/system]. I want something that is cheap and long-lasting. What are my options?”?

Customers often ask us that question, and we rarely reply with a standard response.?

Instead, we’ll prompt you to consider some factors when you’re faced with the price-quality dilemma as a customer.?

Major considerations:?

• Is it a component of a mission-critical system??
• Will its durability affect other parts??
• How much professional labour do you need to hire to get the job done??
• How much time and money does it cost to replace??
• How much unexpected downtime can you afford??

Other considerations:?

• Are you okay with original equipment equivalents (OEE)??
• Are you okay with shorter warranty periods??

As you may have guessed, the right answer is very subjective to your budget, preference and how many of those factors you are willing to compromise on in exchange for paying less money.?

Let’s look at a few examples of components you can probably relate to -- especially if you’re in Maintenance, Repair and Operations (MRO), where the predictability of service intervals and risks of unplanned downtime easily become a key concern when there is the premature failure of a part.

• Bearings: It’s easy to dismiss these rollers as mundane parts until one of them breaks. The cheaper ones can easily wear out, especially if they are carrying heavier loads than they are weight-rated for. It only takes a broken bearing or two to halt an entire conveyor belt system. Even when you immediately have a spare unit on hand, it may take an hour or more to replace it.
• Belts: Although cheaper industrial belts are known to wear out faster, some people still buy them, and in bulk even. They argue the part is relatively easy to check for damage and replace anyway. The problem is when these belts snap at the wrong place and time, it can damage other parts. As an aside, another shortcut people like to take with belts in order to save money is to only replace damaged ones. If there are multiple belts on a single pulley, they should all be replaced by the same brand at the same time. Replacing only one or two belts will cause uneven load and wear and cause all the belts to wear out more quickly, which will ultimately be more costly.
• Hoses, ducting and fittings: While these components are designed to handle various loads of pressurized and non-pressurized liquids or gases passing through, sometimes 24/7, it’s hard to guarantee that the entire system is fully efficient. Inevitably, there will be leaks due either to wear and tear or just plain defective or low-quality components. When something breaks or leaks, however small, the whole system stops working as intended. Aside from low-quality components, you should also consider low-quality workmanship, so it pays not to cheap out on labour for installation and repairs done right by competent professionals.?For some systems, especially pressurized ones, such as air-conditioning units, you will have no choice but to spend extra to replace leaked refrigerants.
• Roller chains: Their prices vary wildly and are usually influenced by the quality of materials and the processes involved in manufacturing (and which country they were manufactured in). Also, they can get expensive quickly as they’re usually sold by length (eg. boxes of 10 ft etc.). Some brands of chains are more sought after than others, despite their heftier price tag, simply because of their reputation for superior?reliability, easier serviceability and the longer service life they can provide. Some of the higher end chains are also self-lubricating and extremely pricey but have obvious benefits. To MROs, the longevity of the pricier product alone saves them hours of downtime since they don’t have to service the machine as frequently.
• Slip resistance products: Depending on the size and type of surface you need to install anti-slip products onto, you might be tempted to go for cheaper solutions so you can cover more area. After all, your workers are already wearing slip-free boots anyway, right? That’s a common argument from customers, until they realize it’s often very cost-effective to install custom-sized ladder rung covers, safeplates, safety matting and stair nosings because of their longevity alone. (More info: Your Anti-Slip FAQs Answered)

Wrapping up?

To some people, “cheap” and “long-lasting” seldom go together in the same sentence; the consensus is that nothing cheap lasts long. That holds true whether you’re in MRO or not.?

As a consumer, you might even think that the higher the price of the product or service, the higher its perceived quality, which are both acceptable marketing psychology and buyer heuristic.?

Nevertheless, as we always say, err on the side of caution.?

Always remember: You get what you pay for.?