Balance between quality and cost

Last day, I visited a supplier again for issue.

The supplier provided us a cable. The cable is very easy to produce. Cut a cable and clamp terminals on the both ends. But the clamping force is required strictly. The first delivery was rejected for the strength NG. And second time it was checked strength NG in our headquarter. HQ asked the supplier to renew a batch.

But the supplier won't do and always searches excuse. The supplier said the requirement was beyond the industry standards and it hoped we could provide supporting. I said of course we supported them. But  the supplier is responsible for the problem and is active to think a solution.

One week ago, the supplier promised they would give a solution this Tuesday. But on Monday it didn't do anything except saying it was not the industry standard. I told the purchaser that we coundn't accept the excuse. it is not a problem of standard. We have express our requirement before releasing the PO. So fot the batch goods, the supplier must be responsible for giving a solution.

I remembered my fore-boss told me a word. Any problems in business can be solved by money. Yesterday I accompanyed purchaser to the supplier again. Arriving there, I directly went to the workshop. I told them to prepare some terminals and cable. I did the experiment with the supplier engineer and sales manager together. The result of the experiment indicated that the supplier could match the requirement if they used more strength to clamp terminals. Problem is that it spent the operators much more time and energy. And they won't buy a automatic claming machine for it. In another words, it won't spend more money on it.

Then we had a meeting. I confirmed the problem was not  and industry standard one.It was a balance problem between cost and quality .The supplier should solve it soon.Our purchaser said directly. If the supplier couldn't solve it in technology.it should solve it in business.

Supplier had agreed with us and promised on this Friday it would give a saying. Anyway it should spend money on it.

It is too tired. But we hope it will keep its words this time.