Supply Chain / Logistics

Bossard offers invaluable Last Mile Management software designed to streamline the automation and data exchange process for mass customization manufacturers. We know you are constantly seeking innovative technology to reduce waste and better your business practices, and this software is designed with your goals in mind.

Our proven solution can offer a cost savings of up to 60% thanks to its focus on efficiency and providing your material controller with accurate and timely product information.

So how does it work? We provide you with an automated system designed to alert you when material replenishment is needed. It records demand in a digital picking list for you, which will be automatically received by Bossard’s Last Mile Management mobile app. This software is both intuitive and paperless, allowing you to efficiently pick the requested material at central storage locations.

Our software generates an optimized replenishment route plan, eliminating the need for you to do so and, therefore, making the process as efficient as possible. In fact, this route plan can even be sent to an automated guided vehicle which will smoothly take care of transferring material flow to your shop floor.

Don’t let full automation scare you—our system can also be easily reconfigured to give you full control. Plus, you’ll receive maintenance-free service by Bossard experts for your peace of mind.

No matter what kind of production plan you use—work cell based, batch, flow, or mixed model assembly line—Bossard’s Last Mile Management is designed to support it all. Our intuitive software provides manufacturers with a simple, cost-effective solution intended to help you reduce waste and achieve your full potential.

To see if Last Mile Management can benefit you, contact us at ProvenProductivity@bossard.com.

It may be tempting to buy fasteners directly from manufacturers strictly based on piece price, but before you commit to a source, keep in mind some of the benefits of using a good distributor.

Benefits of Using a Distributor

1. Volumes – Most manufacturers have MOQs (minimum order quantities) of 2,000 pounds per order. Fasteners are produced from coils of steel, which are generally 2,000 pounds in weight. Splitting a coil is not cost effective, so MOQs are established. Distribution often buys the larger lot sizes of standard parts and may stock them for re-selling in smaller quantities.
2. Packaging – Distributors are often more flexible on package types and quantities. For the best pricing, many manufacturers prefer to ship in bulk containers which require repackaging.
3. Delivery – Scheduled delivery quantities and dates may be negotiated rather than bulk shipments.
4. Stocking – Many distributors offer programs to bring the fasteners right to your assembly line and monitor your inventory for you.
5. Design Help – A good distributor will have fastener experts on staff that can help design engineers select the proper fasteners, troubleshoot problems with assembly, and make recommendations for cost savings.

If you are not getting the support you need from your fastener supplier, contact us at ProvenProductivity@bossard.com.

Doug Jones
Applications Engineer
djones@bossard.com

When prioritizing the necessary components of your end product, C-parts such as screws, washers and nuts often take the backseat. While it’s true these small pieces may not be the most noteworthy aspect of your product, there’s no question they are a vital part of the machine you are selling.

However, acquiring C-parts—even small consumer articles—is often a very costly business. This leads to high process costs in relation to the purchase costs. So how do you save money on secondary parts while maintaining excellent end product quality?

That’s where our free e-book comes in.

How Our E-Book Can Help

In this e-book, you will find 6 proven ways to help you reach up to 70% cost savings on your C-parts management. With the book as your guide, you will learn the importance of several factors that affect C-parts cost and useful tips on how to recognize these issues so you can find a better long-term solution.

This book will help you identify potential problems early on, allowing you to pinpoint a management area that needs work and fix it accordingly, saving you money in the long run. You’ll learn the benefits of outsourcing C-parts management and avoiding over-production, which can cost you time as well as money. Our e-book helps you understand the value of minimizing your movements for better efficiency, as well as how to focus on time management and process analysis to make sure you are on the right track.

Experience in the industry has shown that cost savings of up to 70% can be achieved in the areas of logistics of C-parts management. This has a lasting effect on the total cost of the end product. Success stories from Bossard’s customers are the true proof of saving immense costs on your C-parts management.

For more information, check out www.bossard.com or contact us at ProvenProductivity@bossard.com.

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When reviewing supply chain management, it’s often discouraging that the last leg of the supply chain, moving materials from central storage locations to the work cells, is often the least efficient part of the shipping process. That’s why we’ve developed Last Mile Management—a simple solution for internal logistics.

Last Mile fully supports the milk run / water spider employee by efficiently carrying out their material flow in a time-saving manner for maximum productivity and less hassle. This method allows your business to benefit from intuitive and paperless instructions for setup and replenishment, shorter paths and full transparency.

Last Mile Benefits

Our replenishment process has been optimized by experts to create a seamless and cost-effective method of transportation.

Last Mile gives you real-time consumption data for each individual work cell and optimizes material flow and reduction of movements in internal logistics. We utilize semi- and fully-automated digital technologies to determine shorter order and delivery times; this ensures a highly reliable and efficient process. The Last Mile method also provides flexibility in reconfigurations.

Notable Features

Last Mile consists of several essential features that all come together to make the system run smoothly. This management method utilizes electronic demand requests, a mobile app for a paperless process, integration of all articles, as well as configurable work cells and customizable route definition for your convenience.

How it Works

Using a semi- or fully-automated system, a demand request is triggered at the work cell. The request is then transmitted online to the Bossard software ARIMS, where it is automatically added to the digital picking list. This digital list ensures the needed materials can be efficiently picked at the supermarket, pre-assembly, warehouse, etc. Finally, the milk run / water spider receives a route plan to replenish the work cells. Last Mile guarantees the final route plan is path-optimized, paperless, reliable and time-saving.

Optimize your Last Mile Management with Bossard’s results-driven process for a smoother, more resourceful shipping procedure that saves your business both time and money. For more information, check out www.bossard.com or contact us at ProvenProductivity@bossard.com.

Rationalization: the action of reorganizing a process or system to make it more logical and consistent.

When we talk to customers about saving them money as a supplier of fasteners, the term “rationalization” always comes up. So how does the definition above apply to saving money just by looking at fasteners?

There are a couple of ways to approach the process:

BOM

The first is to look at one product that is being produced and start with the BOM (bill of materials) for that item. Often the BOM is missing some key descriptors, which we need to identify first by reviewing samples or prints to make sure we have a complete description. Once we have good, complete descriptions, then we can filter the list by size, grade and/or finish and look for similar parts. Next, we ask the question, “Do you need three M8 nuts, or can you get by with one that works for all applications?” By going through this exercise, we can normally eliminate several part numbers which ultimately saves the customer money.

Large Scale Approach

The other way to approach the process is to look at the entire factory, assuming that multiple items are being produced. By looking at the larger scale, we can eliminate more parts and come up with more cost savings. This only works well if we see the entire fastener BOM, so if there is more than one fastener supplier, we need access to all items.

Suggestions from a rationalization exercise can always yield cost savings, at least in theory. However, the reality is that making changes to existing products also has a cost which may exceed the savings. So what is the value of rationalization?

By going through the exercise with existing products, a strategy can be developed to use going forward on future builds. If possible, make a “first choice” list using one drive style, one finish and one grade of fastener that will work in most applications. Publish this list and teach engineers to use it as much as possible. This will help keep the number of special parts to a minimum.

Rationalization can yield some good cost savings ideas, but for the best results, get us involved in the design phase of your engineering project at ProvenProductivity@Bossard.com.

Doug Jones
Applications Engineer
Email: djones@bossard.com

Fastener stores and distributors are everywhere so it should be simple to pick out a fastener for a specific job or assembly, right?

Many large retail chains and small distributors purchase fasteners with the sole purpose of getting the right diameter and length. These companies do not inspect these orders for compliance, nor do they verify that the supplier or manufacturer is meeting any specific standard.

Most likely these companies do not even know about or understand the requirements for fasteners. There are many standards institutes and organizations worldwide, such as ISO, ANSI, ASME, DIN and JIS. Every country will have their own standard system that covers fasteners, methods for testing fasteners, or both. These standards specify requirements for dimensions, thread size (major diameter, minor diameter and pitch), as well as the mechanical requirements, such as hardness and tensile strength.

These requirements are to be inspected and tested by the manufacturer. How do you know that the suppliers follow these guidelines or that the fasteners they supply meet these requirements?

Contact us through ProvenProductivity@bossard.com and see what steps we take to ensure we provide quality fasteners from proven manufacturers.

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Jon Rathe
SCQA

You may not know it, but we are now in the 4th Industrial Revolution.

Previous industrial revolutions have paved the way for the current state of manufacturing. The 1st Industrial Revolution occurred when we harnessed water and steam power to mechanize production. The 2nd was electric power to create mass production, and the 3rd used electronics and information technology to automate production. Now, the 4th is occurring, and it is giving us Smart Factories.

Bossard has developed a Smart Factory Logistics methodology that is helping to bring us into the 4th Industrial Revolution. This methodology will help meet customer needs and make production leaner and more agile. Bossard has three specific solutions to make factories smarter:

Intelligent systems communicate along the supply chain – We have technology like SmartBin Cloud or SmartLabel Cloud that communicates the current demand from the warehouse with integrated weight and motion sensors. That way you can have exactly what you need.

Customer-specific solutions for all needs – The Smart Factory Logistics approach includes a comprehensive logistics management analysis of delivery, supplier consolidation, operation, and maintenance, and even encompasses strategic customer consultation.

Big data software creates transparency – Bossard has their very own supply chain collaboration software ARIMS. This software collects and delivers data on a large scale to create transparency and bring the customer closer to the process.

Take on the 4th Industrial Revolution with Bossard and Smart Factory Logistics! To learn more about how to create a factory of the future, contact us at ProvenProductivity@bossard.com or visit the Bossard microsite www.smartfactorylogistics.com.

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