SPECIAL PROJECTS CASE STUDY

New Product Development

Purchasing Services Co. (PSC) researched production materials, methods, and sources for an existing product component that was vital to our client's product line.   The current quality and reliability of the part were not acceptable. Our goals were:

• Improve the consistency of the component.
• Reduce delivered cost.
• Improve delivery.
• Investigate alternative materials and manufacturing processes.

It was imperative that the current supplier did not find out that possible alternative sources were being contacted to avoid interfering with present production.   If the client's internal purchasing department had made the contacts, the existing supplier could have determined a change was in progress.  

PSC "invented" a fictitious product with a totally different apparent purpose.  This allowed us to contact potential suppliers freely without them knowing what the real product was, who it was for, or the actual use.

We issued Requests for Quote for the part.  After the supplier base was narrowed, we issued non-disclosure agreements to the two most competitive suppliers and showed them the actual product.   This ensured there were no issues that could not be resolved with the real product.  

Upon completion, we furnished our client with a report.  It included the ramifications of alternative materials and manufacturing methods, as well as suggesting design changes to improve the product.  The client received a complete listing of all the companies and contacts to whom we spoke.  

Our information allowed the client to redesign the product around our suggestions and begin production.