By chance, I came across a short video in which a mold factory complained that 20 tons of 718H mold steel had originally been scheduled for delivery in 45 days but was delayed to 60 days instead. As a result, the production schedule was disrupted, operations were forced to stop, the boss was pushing, the customer was pushing, and the mold steel supplier still could not provide a clear production and delivery status.
MoldSteelLS has been deeply involved in wholesale mold steel processing for many years and fully understands the delivery issues mentioned above. From the joy of closing a deal, all kinds of pressure from delivery delays and constant follow-up quickly follow; when the workshop cannot provide a clear progress update for a long time, people naturally become anxious and irritable.
As a mold steel supplier, this process is actually very uncomfortable and painful. On the one hand, we feel we have let down the trust of mold factory customers, because developing a customer and securing a cooperation opportunity is never easy; on the other hand, after the order is sent to the workshop, progress may still be difficult to push forward, whether due to material shortages, insufficient manpower, or machine schedules that cannot be arranged in time.
In numerous instances, sales staff are caught in the middle, either being pushed by customers or repeatedly coordinating with workshop colleagues, which creates enormous pressure. This is also a relatively common phenomenon in the industry. To truly solve the problem of delayed delivery, MoldSteelLS has continuously carried out improvements and optimization in several aspects over the years:
Solving the Problem of Insufficient Mold Steel Grades
We expanded the warehouse and stocked steel materials of various brands and grades in advance. These include steel plates with thicknesses of 10/20/30/60 cm and lengths of 80/120/200/300 cm, as well as large sizes such as 100 cm in width and 400 cm in length to meet customer needs. Based on the customer’s size requirements, we can select a size close to the required dimensions at any time for direct machining, which greatly improves efficiency.
Digital Workshop Production Management
1. More Scientific Lead Time Evaluation
In the past, lead times were quoted based on experience. Now it is different. As early as 5 years ago, MoldSteelLS had already achieved digital workshop production. From the moment the customer places an order and makes payment, the order is entered into the workshop production management system and immediately begins queuing for production. Every stage is completely visible. Therefore, when MoldSteelLS provides a quotation and lead time, we only need to check how many orders are currently ahead in processing, what specific machining procedures they involve, and how long the previous orders will take to complete. Then, we calculate the processing time of each order. In this way, we can provide a lead time with an accuracy rate close to 93%. Sometimes, if the customer is rushing, we can speed things up slightly for earlier delivery. Even in unexpected situations, delays are usually only 2 to 3 days rather than an unreasonable delay of more than 10 days.
1. Standardized Production Process
Every production step is reported and tracked. The production manager can monitor everything in real time on the computer, and employees can also see the progress on the large display screen in the workshop. The previous situation, where one process was completed and then left aside without moving to the next step until someone asked about it, no longer happens. Production is strictly queued according to the system, and the issues of missed operations or unwillingness to process certain jobs in the production department have basically been solved.
Optimizing Shipping Timeliness
1. For local customers in the same city, we can deliver directly to the door, even at 11 p.m., as long as the customer’s factory is still open.
2. For customers in other provinces, we complete production several days in advance within the committed lead time to reduce possible delays during transportation.
3. For international customers, we usually fully consider the distance and product size when preparing the quotation. If the items are small, such as molds, mold bases, or mold blanks, air freight can be used. For bulk steel raw materials, we will prioritize faster ocean shipping options.
