(November 26, 2010)

As demand for spare parts grows with the pick-up in manufacturing industry, Brammer, the UK’s leading distributor of industrial maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) products and services, is warning manufacturers to act now to secure the integrity of their supply chain and avoid the potential problems created by shortages and longer lead times on vital components.

During the recession, some industrial component suppliers reduced their production levels - and Brammer believes that capacity has not yet increased sufficiently to cope with the increased demand from a manufacturing sector that has started to emerge from recession.

Extended lead times of up to a year – or even longer - have been reported for components which would previously have been delivered within a matter of weeks or even days, meaning potentially major problems in terms of lost production if just one vital component is unavailable.

Brynn Woods, Purchasing & Distribution Director at Brammer, explains: “In some key component areas, there are major shortages of supply – and manufacturers without a reliable supply chain in place for production-critical spares could find themselves frantically trying to source a component or turning to unproven suppliers, introducing the risk of sourcing sub-standard or counterfeit parts into their maintenance supply chain.

“Component shortages can also feed through into higher spares costs. Not only does this inflate manufacturing costs, but it further highlights the need for an efficient MRO procurement and management strategy that can actually help lower costs through demand reduction, reduced inventory, and production and maintenance improvements.”

He continued: “More than ever, a partnership with a reliable, authorised distributor like Brammer is vital to maintaining the continuity of supply for production critical spares and avoiding costly downtime.

“Brammer can guarantee authenticity of supply and rapid delivery, and can even recommend and supply alternatives if the component is not available in the required lead time.”

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