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The Benefits of a High-Level Assembly Strategy
High-Level Assembly (HLA) is a proven operations strategy that allows OEMs to focus its in-house efforts on the top-level assembly to simplify production, minimize inventory floor space, manufacturing overhead and direct labor.
With the correct buy-ins and support from the top on down, the operating and financial benefits can be plenty:
Financial:
- Converts fixed costs to truly variable
- Lowers costs by leveraging suppliers
- Reduces working capital needs
- Reduces space requirements
Operating:
- Reduces time to market
- Reduces manufacturing cycle times
- Simplifies trouble shooting and field service
- Reduces space requirements.
-Click here for more on the successes achieved with an HLA strategy
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Customer service recognizes the power of knowledge for both Segue and the customer
For today's contract manufacturer, the changing economy creates an ever-present emphasis on pleasing the customer. While this requires a firm understanding of what the customer wants and needs, it also means that the customer should have the same understanding of exactly what a good contract manufacturer can do for them.
Based on Segue's 2011 Customer Survey, the top five most important vendor attributes were:
- Quality
- On-time delivery (OTD)
- Cost
- Lead Time
- Communication
In other words, "better, cheaper, faster" is desirable, as well as solid support and communication. Surfacing here is the role of customer service and the importance of using the customer's voice to fuel business and strive for continuous improvement. Segue Leadership works hard to abide by the three core principles of Baldridge: assessing customer needs, organizing the company and factory to exceed these needs and measuring actual performance. -Learn more about the role of customer service here. |
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Manufacturing Across the World Slows, U.S. Output Ticks Up
 To be sure, manufacturing is still growing in many countries, including the U.S., where a survey of purchasing managers showed manufacturing output accelerating in September.
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