Author: obsoadmin

Lengthy lead times affect us all, but there are ways to navigate the issues they can pose. 

One of the biggest problems in our industry is the culture of suppliers knowingly overpromising, quoting a shorter lead time to win an order. 

At Obso, we always aim to deliver components within the timeframes that we tell a customer at the time of ordering. We use our expertise in the market to anticipate any potential issues and work out how we can overcome them. This not only helps manage expectations but also means we breed a culture of honesty and transparency – overpromising doesn’t help anyone.

When it comes to delivery, it’s important to go for the most reliable option – not the cheapest. 

We build good relationships with our couriers and this in turn often helps make the process run more smoothly. Genuine daily interactions result in loyalty and quality of service, which then alleviates lead time issues that may arise.

The same goes with customs clearance agents in the countries that we trade-in. We take pride in getting to know them on a personal level so that we can mutually go above and beyond to get the jobs done swiftly and reliably. We understand that although we may be the “face” of Obso, many other people make up the whole process. If you consistently treat people well, then you will be rewarded by a team of good people who make up the bones of your business.

To further mitigate long lead times, it’s important to have a good understanding of processes in every country. We found that when the UK left the EU, we were educating customers on changes and new processes, advising them on what information or paperwork was needed to import and export parts swiftly. This added value is incredibly important to us and we’re happy to use our many years of experience and knowledge to help our customers combat any potential issues.

At the heart of this inside knowledge is, once again, the relationships we form with people across the globe. From making regular trips to the States and getting to know people and their systems, to attending Chamber of Commerce meetings to network with fellow members on home soil, we glean invaluable insight that we can then share with our customers.

We also think it’s vital to prioritise great service. Speed of delivery is key to the business and that’s why it’s so important for us to train and incentivise our teams to deliver quality service every time. This culture seeps through Obso and is the lifeblood of what we do. We want to take away the stress of long lead times from our customers and make the process much easier. Essentially, we make a promise to our customers, and fulfilling this promise is important to us.

Obso has created a free five-point plan to help guide operators through some key steps to take to mitigate lead times. If you’d like to discuss your requirements, please contact us at +44 (0)800 36 888 17, or email [email protected].

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Counterfeit components extend beyond being mere inexpensive replicas. They present substantial hazards to the intricate manufacturing process, which hinges on the harmonious collaboration of an array of automated industrial parts. These substandard elements carry the potential to trigger numerous malfunctions, capable of bringing production to a standstill, jeopardising the well-being of employees, and resulting in substantial financial losses due to repairs and missed sales.

In light of this, what proactive measures can be taken to safeguard your production process?

Our Warehouse Specialist in Quality Assessment has over five years of experience in counterfeiting procedures, he goes on to say, “All industrial parts that come across my desk undergo rigorous tests to ensure that all parts supplied to the Obso clientele are genuine. Here are some of the preventative measures I’ve employed to stop over 215 fake parts from reaching our clients:”

Source Wisely: Cooperate with reliable vendors who have a history of authenticity and excellence. At Obso, we use a very niche group of suppliers and put them through a rigorous testing process. We also do not make any purchases from China, as we’ve realised that more part imitations are prevalent within that region.

Implement Stringent Verification Procedures: For all incoming parts, set up verification protocols. As a rule of thumb in our onboarding process, all new suppliers who pass through the initial testing phase must complete a supplier agreement and agree to supply only genuine original manufacturer parts. We also include clauses such as limiting them from buying from certain suppliers or parts of the world. And as an additional future-proof reference, any suppliers that send counterfeit goods are automatically entered into our non-conformance report, investigated and blacklisted within our system.

For every part that comes in for repair or replacement, these are some practical ways we perform quality checks:

• All barcoded units are scanned to ensure what is scanned matches what is on the unit.
• Manufacturer labels are checked to ensure the text displayed on the nameplate matches the font of known genuine parts and there are no spelling mistakes.
• Check the casing material is correct.
• Check that the unit weight matches genuine manufacturer parts

Below are some counterfeit units that have been stopped during our quality checks. These examples show common indicators that the goods are not genuine with serial numbers being tampered with and spelling mistakes displayed on the unit.

Educate Your Team: Equip your employees with information about spotting fake parts. The first line of defence is awareness – knowing what to look for and how it can be mitigated.

Keep up-to-date: Keep an eye out for new trends in counterfeiting. Future problems can be avoided by being proactive and remaining one step ahead of the game.
Even though fake industrial automation parts are cunning, you can outsmart them using the appropriate tactics. By guaranteeing the legitimacy and calibre of every component in your supply chain, you are prioritising not just the integrity of your products but also the safety of your employees and the production process as a whole.

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The Food and Beverage manufacturing sector is a huge arena, shaping an $8 trillion industry globally, and contributing more to the economy. The food and beverage industry is dedicated to ensuring food safety above all else. With regular equipment washdowns to maintain strict hygiene standards, every component must be designed to withstand exposure to water without damage. Motors, rollers, conveyors – all parts utilize food-safe steel coatings to comply with industry regulations.

To meet the growing demands of consumers worldwide, food and beverage plants now operate 24/7. Consequently, maintenance is often reactive, occurring in response to issues rather than preventatively. However, in an industry with tight profit margins, any unexpected downtime results in substantial costs. When a production line goes offline unexpectedly, financial losses can quickly escalate. There is an urgent need to restore operations as soon as possible.

That’s why smart maintenance practices are critical for food and beverage manufacturers. Here are some recommendations:

• Implement a rigorous preventive maintenance program to identify potential problems before they occur. Schedule regular equipment inspections and part replacements.
• Utilize condition monitoring sensors to track metrics like vibration and temperature. Analyze this data for insights into emerging issues.
• Keep detailed maintenance logs to understand failure patterns and guide future upkeep.
• Stock critical spare parts onsite to enable quick repairs when issues arise.
• Train maintenance staff on proper hygienic design principles and food-safe protocols.
• Explore new technologies like remote monitoring and predictive maintenance to maximize uptime.

With proactive maintenance as a priority, food and beverage manufacturers can avoid costly downtime events. Keeping a sharp focus on food safety while optimizing production is critical in this fast-paced, high-volume industry. Implementing smart maintenance best practices will enable companies to reap the benefits of maximized throughput and minimized disruptions.

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At Obso Automation, we are passionate about our service for our customers and this goes above and beyond taking an order. Customer service, care and satisfaction over a long period is what we are here for, and the health and safety of our customers is a massive part of that. Just as counterfeit goods can pose a risk to customers and their teams, so can poorly managed maintenance. Timely, methodical and robust maintenance programmes should run to keep you and your team safe and to help avoid unnecessary downtime. With several high-profile stories in the press recently across the world it has never been more important to take stock, check your equipment and plan for replacing parts that are nearing the end of their usability.

When you know equipment will need testing or could be due for replacement, you can contact us in advance to ensure you have your part on time. We can even work alongside you to ensure we have the stock you need when you need it so you never run the risk of using a piece of automation equipment that really should have been replaced. If you don’t have the room to stock your spares, work with us and know we’ll have the part when you need it.

A supplier with an inventory management programme like the Obso Automation 360 inventory management program can help you keep your lines open, reliable and most importantly running safely. We can proactively work with you so you don’t get caught out and with our specialism in obsolete and notoriously hard-to-find parts, you can let us find a safe, working replacement long in advance of you needing it. Contact us to see how we can help you plan and manage your stock!

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Obso Automation has collaborated with Academy Club to sponsor the Stafford Falcons under 9s team.

The squad made up of 9 players has just finished an unbelievable season which saw them play teams a year up (these kids should be playing in the under 8’s), win 8-0 in the semi-final to reach the final! Despite not taking the trophy this year, the team still ended the season with a sea of smiles.

As part of our ongoing support of the local community, Obso Automation alongside the Academy Club has bought a new match kit and training kit for every player. With no rest for these dedicated young players, they’ll keep training every week and throughout the summer holidays ready to take on their next tournament.

Leroy Spence, Director and Founder of Obso Automation said,

“It’s really important to encourage and support kids in sports these days. Activity, friendship, competition and determination help form the foundations for life and we’ll always be here to support the communities in which we work. I have watched some of the kids in the squad go from being quiet, shy and unable to kick a ball, into driven, focused and outgoing kids who have formed friendships with children from other schools, and found ambition to better themselves – these skills will shape their future whether that’s on or off the pitch and we’re proud to help.”

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We are excited to announce that Obso Automation has launched a Trustpilot page to gather customer reviews and feedback. Trustpilot is an independent review platform that allows consumers to share their experiences with businesses.

At Obso Automation, we highly value your feedback on our products and services. Your reviews allow us to continuously improve while demonstrating our commitment to quality service. We strive to provide the best possible experience for our customers.

We would really appreciate it if you could take the time to leave a review of Obso Automation on Trustpilot. Your honest and thoughtful reviews help future customers make informed decisions when choosing automation solutions.

Please visit our Trustpilot page here: https://lnkd.in/eh3rBfZt

Thank you for choosing Obso Automation! We look forward to hearing about your experiences with our products and solutions. Your feedback is invaluable as we work to offer the highest quality automation systems and unmatched customer service.

Please reach out anytime with questions or concerns. We are always happy to hear from our customers.

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