Leveraging Supplier Relationships to Find the Right Solution

Background

The PGC customer in this case study is a control panel manufacturer providing engineering and manufacturing services to OEMs across industries including HVAC, building technology, water treatment and pumping, oil and gas, solar power, agriculture, packaging, alternative energy and charging infrastructure, and semiconductors. Its products include custom control panels, low- and medium-voltage control panels, and enclosed drive packages. Because enclosure requirements vary by application, the customer often uses flexible weatherstripping and sealing materials that can accommodate different configurations.

Challenge

For one of the customer's projects, the customer's end user specified a particular sponge rubber and pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) combination. The customer's existing suppliers couldn't provide the required combination, creating a sourcing challenge that needed to be resolved before procurement could move forward. The customer turned to PGC to determine whether another sourcing option could meet the specified sponge rubber and adhesive requirements.

Solution

PGC reviewed the supplied product specifications and worked through its material supplier network to identify a sponge rubber and PSA combination that matched the project's specified requirements. PGC was also prepared to evaluate an alternative sponge rubber option if the originally specified product could not be sourced through the available supplier portfolio. This gave the customer a path to meet the existing specification and an alternative sourcing approach if the specified material became unavailable.

Results

PGC provided the customer with a competitive quote for a sponge rubber and PSA combination that met the specified material and adhesive requirements. PGC also quoted the material in the roll configuration the customer required, allowing it to fit the customer's existing procurement and manufacturing needs. By identifying another viable source for the specified material combination, PGC helped the customer meet an important sourcing requirement and keep the project moving forward. For OEMs and manufacturers facing similar material availability or sourcing challenges, PGC can review supplied material specifications and work with its supplier network to identify sourcing options for custom-converted components.