The MHEDA Journal Examines Lead Times In Material Handling

Oct. 31, 2011 - PRLog -- The MHEDA Journal Online is the leading online magazine for the forklift, conveyor, storage & handling, and general material handling equipment industries. The 4th Quarter issue of the magazine is online now and features distributors and manufacturers discussing the lead-time quagmire in the material handling industry. Suppliers representing four material handling categories—industrial trucks, general lines, storage & handling and engineered systems—describe how they are dealing with lead-time challenges and what their companies are doing to help distributors get product in a more timely way.

“We never mislead about lead times,” says Jim Bronsema, director of distributor sales at TGW. “If something will be longer than expected, we give the facts. We monitor closely the lead times for materials from our own suppliers, and we make sure to stock the items that could cause longer leads with our customers.”

Bronsema’s comments cut to the heart of distributor concerns about lead-times. Says one distributor, “The most important thing a manufacturer can do is be correct with estimated lead time. If they change the time once or twice after the order has been placed, we now have a very upset customer who thinks we lied initially to secure the order.”

While lead-times vary by product type in the material handling industry, all four suppliers stressed that frequent communication with distributors is vital. “It all boils down to frequent communication, trusted relationships, and getting those approval drawings signed as quickly as possible,” says Hubert A. Schlegel, director of marketing at Wildeck.

To learn more about how suppliers are dealing with the lead-time quagmire, read the entire article on The MHEDA Journal Online. http://www.themhedajournal.org/index.php/2011/10/four-lea....  The MHEDA Journal is published quarterly, in January, April, July and October. For more information, contact Steve Guglielmo, content editor of The MHEDA Journal, (315) 445-2347, email: steve@datakey.org.

About MHEDA
Founded in 1954, the Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association (MHEDA) is the premier source for manufacturing knowledge, education and networking. Through its member journals (http://www.TheMhedaJournal.org), e magazines, newsletters and industry wiki (http://www.wikimheda.org), MHEDA connects the manufacturers of storage & handling, lift trucks and conveyor equipment and distribution leaders for the purpose of delivering optimal solutions to the users of those products. MHEDA publications are the industry’s voice for all matters related to the latest technology and the most up-to-date processes spanning the movement and storage of all materials. A 501(c)3 organization, MHEDA members span all of North America.