Unparalleled Manufacturing Efficiencies

It’s no secret that navigating the complexities of sourcing, whether fasteners, or C-Class components, has been made all the complex by the precarious state of the global supply chain. However, often not a primary consideration, lies the ongoing management and logistics of these parts.

Although a typically low value commodity, in the case of fasteners, the vast array of styles can make them harder to manage, and in the very worst of scenarios, bring whole production lines to a grinding halt.

Forming a huge part of many production builds, perhaps none more so than in automotive and the burgeoning EV sector, fasteners can be subject to varying rates of consumption, with excess stock negatively affecting cash flow. The ability to easily identify demand vs capacity and highlight potential production bottlenecks via Kanban is of the utmost importance.

Tried-and-true methods, backed by advances in technology give customers greater foresight, demand planning and real-time access to accurate automated data — yielding significant production time and cost savings and ultimately providing unparalleled efficiencies.

Optimas Solutions, a global distributor and manufacturer of fasteners, components and industrial supplies was founded around the same simple objective: efficiency; the term now a part of the company's slogan. Carved out of Anixter Fasteners in 2015, Optimas is a prime example of a company that has fully embraced the latest in Kanban technologies whilst still offering customers all the benefits of more traditional methods.?

“There are many different options for Kanban systems and methods of operating such systems. Optimas provides and supports all, including vending machines, RFID and remote weigh scale technology” says Martin Purvis MBE, Head of Operations (UK).

“Arguably though, one of our greatest assets are our highly trained and motivated envoys who become embedded in the needs of our customers and are our front line in ensuring excellent service and customer satisfaction.”

Operating from 2 main hubs in Gloucester and Stockport and bolstered by 2 distribution centres in Birmingham and Newton Aycliffe, Optimas’ team of dedicated envoys provide a UK-wide service, fully tailored to the customers’ requirements, be that in the form of Direct Line Feed (DLF) or dock to dock deliveries. These services can mean weekly customers visits or, at the other end of the spectrum, 24-hour coverage. It’s this very level of service that found the company receiving an award from a key customer in 2020 in support of the manufacturing call-to-arms as a result of the pandemic.

With recent global challenges, the provision of safer work environments coupled with the rapid advances in technology and an increasing need for simplified, transparent data management, in late 2020, Optimas introduced its Contactless Replenishment system.

Utilising advanced handheld scanners and smart software, the Contactless Replenishment offers customers a flexible, on-demand service that provides visibility of stock via real-time data and allowing the quick detection of incorrect part usage, tracking of obsolescence or to easily identify changes in consumption.

Through this, Optimas continue to meet and exceed the company’s singular focus, making manufacturers more efficient.

-- Article first written and published in the November-December 2021 issue of Torque magazine