Context:
One of our clients, working in the steel industry, recently faced a shortage of spare parts for their galvanizing line. Galvanizing involves applying a protective layer of zinc coating to iron or steel to prevent rusting. As an important part of the production process, the missing parts were critical to keeping the production line operational.
Our Support:
To avoid production stoppages, we launched a functional analysis to determine the exact parts needed (specifications, etc.). The affected machine prepared steel for further processing. The machine's components, including its motors, were linked to automation modules that controlled the movement of steel while it was still hot.
A particular challenge: the same part often exists under different brands, with varying internal codes across industries. Our job was to go beyond facial references and identify functional equivalents.
We found available E&O (Excess & Obsolete) stock across our partner networks and acted as a bridge by connecting our steel client with one of our luxury-sector clients who had compatible motors. At a glance, steel and luxury goods seem entirely unrelated but their producers relied on the same type of machinery, creating overlap. By facilitating this connection, we helped maintain operational continuity while avoiding extended downtime and unnecessary investment in new parts with long lead times.
Partners:
