A Small Difference Can Be A Big Thing

Sometimes manufacturers of the most common industrial products that we use can provide us with that "little bit extra" that sets them apart from the competition. By furnishing these services they make our jobs easier and help us become more profitable and remain competitive. One such company is New York-based Nardco Corporation.

I am going to use Nardco as an example of why it is important to evaluate your vendors to see what the real cost of their products are. Most items that we use in our manufacturing facilities are available from a number of different sources. If you only judge the companies by the bottom line on the price sheet, you might very well be disappointed. And furthermore, you may very well be adding unnecessary cost to your manufacturing process.

Richard Lehrman, president of Nardco Corporation in Oceanside, New York, says, "When your operators set up a complex machining center or a basic lathe, the productivity of the machining depends largely on the quality and precision of the workholding and toolholding products." Another important factor that affects productivity is how long it takes the operators to set up the holders, he says.

Though workholding and toolholding products from various sources may appear similar, there are important differences. Since Nardco was founded in 1946 as a job shop, it has been striving to ensure accuracy, dependability and efficiency. Over the past 50 years it has grown from a tiny one-man operation into the modern facility it is today. The company's continued goal has been to enhance the predictability, productivity and dependability of its customers' machines at a competitive cost.

Nardco is an industry leader in many ways. The company says it was the first to introduce a collet pad with a guaranteed 0.0002-inch TIR. The company also provides a comprehensive offering of toolholder bushings and a broad variety of dependable hard and soft chuck jaws for both foreign and domestic chucks.

Nardco developed and uses a packaging process that ensures the quality of its products. This is one of the small things that can make a big difference in the total cost of manufacturing. All of its products are oiled in a rust preventative, then poly-bagged and boxed to ensure delivery of a pristine, ready-to-use product. Mr. Lehrman states, "We don't take the typical shortcut and simply dip the jaws into plastic wax and wrap them in newspaper. If we did, the possible transit damage to serrations would require your operators to file and deburr. They've got enough to do."

Nardco standard products include collet pads, toolholder bushings and chuck jaws.

When we are evaluating our vendors we should look at them in the same light that we would like our customers to look at us. Consider all the variables. Dig just a little deeper, and your efforts just might pay some big dividends.