SUPPLY CHAIN “Our differentiator is that we go to their factories and seek to add value by highlighting opportunities for improvement in every factory
— Jorge Gonzalez , Director of Sourcing in Asia and APAC
order to produce prototypes , concepts and drawings . There is also an engineering team , each housing over 15 years ’ experience , which is why our sourcing is world-class ,” adds Gonzalez .
“ Appointing a number of individuals with a background in manufacturing has also helped our suppliers , as many organisations won ’ t have the manpower or the expertise to go deep into their operations . They just want to negotiate the price and then leave things be . Our differentiator is that we go to their factories and seek to add value by highlighting opportunities for improvement in every factory ,” he continues .
“ We have the background and the expertise . Manufacturing together with lean and six sigma methodologies was a key turning point .”
BUILDING TEAM RESILIENCE
As new materials , textures , colours and finishes , as well as types of lenses , continue to flood the market , Gonzalez and his team have remained adaptable against ongoing market volatility .
With over a thousand new products each year , each member of the team plays a key role : Product development and engineering teams manage all 1000 models from prototyping to mass production readiness ; the quality manager ensures that all are manufactured to high standards , whilst the production manager remains responsible for the procurement-to-pay process and delivery performance .
Additionally , one team is strategically working with suppliers and gaining a greater understanding of costings , the bill of materials , and overhead percentages . Its sourcing house has illustrated how a healthy manufacturing company should operate by creating a dedicated area for its purchasing operations and giving its sourcing house greater autonomy .
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