Terms of Trade in Africa and Reasons for High Volume of Trade Between Africa and the West
Development of substitutes, weather type, difficulty in diversifying the economy due to competition from foreign countries, reliance on primary production and vulnerability to world recession and price fluctuations are major economic problems associated with dependence of African countries.
Terms of trade in Africa, especially the west
Terms of trade in West African countries have been witnessing an unfavorable or worsening trend because the prices of their imports have been increasing relative to prices of exports. reasons for the worsening terms of trade include: most west African countries are producers and exporters of primary products eg, agricultural produce and crude minerals; they import lots of capital goods in an effort to industrialize thereby increasing imports more than exports; there has been a fall in the demand for certain primary products of West African countries. This is due to the development of substitutes by the developed nations. this leads to a decrease in the price of export and increase in the price of imports and then finally, the production of low quality of manufactured products is also a problem. This is due to low level of technological development. The importation of high quality manufactured products, therefore increases importation over exportation.
How to improve terms of trade
The terms of trade can be improved by any method which will increase the price of exports relative to imports. these methods are: use of inflationary policy, appreciation of the currency, imposition of higher export duties on commodities with an inelastic demand, a reduction in the demand for imports; through collective bargaining, developing countries could achieve higher prices for their exports; improvement on the quality of manufactured goods and there should be increased internal use of primary products in production.
Reasons for high volume of trade between West African countries and developed countries
The bulk of west African foreign trade is directed away from Africa to the developed countries due to:
1. Presence of processing industries: Industries that make use of the raw materials which are the main products of West African countries are found in Europe and America.
2. World Economic order favors developed countries: The world economic order tends to be in favor of the developed countries hence West African countries export the goods to them.
3. Absence of developed markets: There is absence of developed markets in Africa because its system of exchange is still underdeveloped and there is low demand as a result of low per capital income.
4. Over reliance on foreign products: Over reliance on foreign products has made West Africans to have notion that foreign products are superior.
5. Ineffective transport and communication system: Ineffective transport and communication system in Africa makes international trade difficult.
6. Low level of technology: Low level of technological development makes it difficult for African countries to produce goods needed in the continent, hence its going to Europe an America.
7. Production of mainly agricultural products: African countries produce mainly agricultural products and this makes exchange of goods between them very difficult.
8. Provision of capital goods are mainly from developed nations: Capital goods which west African countries depend heavily on are mainly produced in Europe and America.
9. Colonial ties: The inclination of some developing countries to their colonial masters has helped to increase the volume of trade between the nations.
So, it is now left for the government of the various African countries involved to tackle these issues because the remedy is a straight forward one. Reversing most of these problems will create a lasting solution.
The American Made Rolls Royce Auto – Not a Success Story
At one point in time the venerable prestige Rolls-Royce fine motor cars were made and manufactured in the U.S.A. – the United States of America. However this early example of marketing and production offshore and off home base was doomed to failure.
A bare six months after the signing of the historic contract between Charles Rolls and Henry Royce the export drive of Rolls-Royce was on its way. Early on in September 1906 Charles Royce was on his way to the United States, taking with him four cars as samples of the company’s wares. One of these cars was sold almost as soon as it was unloaded; one went straight away to Texas. The remaining two vehicles served as sales and marketing vehicles – an example of the fine craft and attention to detail that the company become world famous and known for. One of the cars was kept on the road as a demonstration model, while the other was put on display at the New York Auto Show. That first appearance at the auto show was a great success for Rolls Royce as well: an additional four orders were taken for new cars. As well an American distributor jumped to the plate.
Business grew for Rolls- Royce in America to the point that in the 12 month period before the beginning of the First World War, fully 100 vehicles were sold. By this time the owners and management of the firm had come to the conclusion of the great sales potential for Rolls-Royce motorcars in the United States. Judged on current trends and market sales information and experience, they came to the conclusion that the American market for their fine products was larger and richer than anything that they could expect to attain in their home market and current manufacturing domain – England. Import restrictions and tariffs would be the limiting factor for Rolls-Royce in terms of both added costs to the final price of the car to American consumers, who would have to absorb the import tariffs on their vehicles and the profitability of Rolls-Royce in America.
The die was cast. As promptly as possible American manufacturing facilities were set up. This was to be a full Rolls-Royce manufacturing facility in America. A factory itself was purchased in Springfield Massachusetts. Manufacturing was promptly commenced under the direct supervision of none other than Henry Royce himself. Production was done mainly by local workers, aided and supervised by a fleet of 50 tradesmen from the British Derby factory itself. These British workers actually physically immigrated to America permanently with their families as well.
Production at this Springfield plant commenced in 1921 with Rolls-Royce firmly stating that the product from this auto plant would be the equal of anything built at the home plant located at Derby England. The plan was that parts would be shipped and assembled in the US with custom made coachwork made by existing prestigious American firms. Interestingly enough over time the number of items made locally in the US, as opposed to Britain, began to actually increase, not decrease. However the consistency of the product, in terms of product line and actual product began to deviate from the strict British made product. Only the first 25 rolling chassis were actually identical to the Derby England factory items. As time went on there were more and more deviations from the strict British product. Some of this may be due to the personal preferences and procedures of the different local American coachbuilders. After each was a premium established firms with distinct products, styles and methods previously. Some was due to the requests from the American customers, their ability to individualize and personalize their American made car to their individual preferences and styles.
What did in the American Roll-Royce? For one thing cost. Substantial costs were incurred in converting the cars from right hand British drive to left hand American. As a result of the increased costs incurred, the selling price of these American made Rolls-Royces was not nearly as competitive to other automotive products available on the U.S. market for prestige automotive products. Next the primary U.S. coachmaker for Rolls-Royce, the Brewster Coachbuilding firm, fell into financial difficulties. Then along came the 1929 stock market crash. The American Rolls-Royce might of continued save for one major marketing blunder. The British parent firm introduced a dynamite model – the Phantom, The car was not made in the US nor even made available, by import of 100 cars, till a year later. The car had great reception with the prestige auto market in the USA. However by the time it was decided to manufacture this hit product to meet the American demand the actual Phantom model was replaced by an ultra high tech and sophisticated model – The Phantom II. With the retooling costs incurred the calculation was that each American Rolls-Royce Phantom II car unit produced and sold would cost the company an astounding 1 million to produce in comparison to the 1929 customer price threshold for luxury prestige automobiles of only $ 20,000.
The fate of Rolls-Royce American manufactured products was sealed. The firm honored the last 200 orders for their cars. By 1935 these orders were completed and delivered to their customers.
That was the ending of the Rolls-Royce experiment of producing an American made prestige car product.
The Basics of Industrial Supply
The core of industrial supply consists of a wide selection of manufactures, wholesalers, and distributors all doing work in combination to put the proper products within reach of a massive association of builders, maintenance crews, utility suppliers, and countless other companies who work attentively to keep our country running.
Industrial suppliers certainly are a specific breed of companies often doing business inside of the B2B space and supplying a wide range of industrial products. Just a couple of these product categories might include:
Abrasives
Adhesives
Electrical Supplies
Hand Tools
Hardware
Heavy Machinery
HVAC Products
Janitorial Supplies
Plumbing Equipment
Power Tools
Safety Supplies and Equipment
Welding Materials
And much more.
The entire process of industrial supply starts off with manufacturers who turn raw materials directly into items the products’ industrial end-users need to do everything from manufacture their own unique finished goods, to create things like utilities, consumer services, and many of other goods and services that customers demand.
Manufactures then ship these products to their industrial distributors who serve the important roll of merging thousands of various kinds of items and disbursing them to end-users all over the world. This allows manufactures to target their attention primarily on manufacturing, leaving the majority of the logistical procedures in the attentive hands of industrial distributors who are known for making these processes as efficient and cost-effective as possible.
Once these manufactured products leave the industrial supplier’s hands it is up to the end-users to use these materials in order to operate their own unique businesses, producing and circulating lots of the goods and services most of us use regularly.
The importance of the roll that the industrial distributor plays in this supply chain can’t be understated. Without the employment of industrial distributors the efficiency of the supply chain is going to be severed as industrial end-users would need to develop thousands of individual associations with manufacturers of each and every product variety, thus establishing a purchasing and logistical nightmare. If this were the scenario, manufacturers would also have to allocate a significant percentage of their resources to things such as complex logistics, collections, and marketing systems.
Industrial distributors increase the value of this supply chain by offering one single point of contact for end-users that happen to be procuring many different industrial products. They also help to significantly reduce the marketing, logistical, and payment complications faced by manufacturers who are required to have their products at the disposal of end-users.
So what does this all mean for you and me? The most essential takeaway would be the fact that industrial suppliers tend to be the key to bringing efficiency to the operation of industrial supply. Without industrial distributors the actual costs of the products consumers use on a regular basis would escalate dramatically as both manufacturers and industrial end-users (producers) alike would see increased costs of accomplishing business and would therefore have to increase the costs for the goods and services they provide.
So that’s the basic summary of how the supply of industrial offerings works from start to finish. With luck, this document has answered any of your questions regarding industrial supply and in doing so will help lead you to finding an industrial distributor that can help your business grow and succeed.
Kassem Mohamad Ajami – A Steel Magnate & Managing Director Of Two Steel Manufacturing Ventures
Kassem Mohamad Ajami is a veteran of steel industry with an experience of 20+ years, this steel magnate found the passion in dealing with steel structures & products manufacturing and was only 20 when realized that steel has a great margin & can be turned for use to sustain a profitable business.
It was his sheer belief & idea that led to the foundation of his big venture called Saba Steel Industrial Nigeria Ltd. and other venture named Metal Berg Manufacturing Limited to dedicatedly serve the West Africa & Nigerian market with globally approved & standardized steel products. Kassem Mohamad Ajami provides the service with the world-class process-based approach as he brings his 14 years’ experience into his work. His extreme leadership qualities made him a superior leader, leading a team of exceptional executive leaders like CFO, General Managers and all the other members of his team.
This steel magnate cum industrialist was keen to set up a structure where businesses or clients can find all the steel manufactured solutions & products under one hood. That too with extreme quality & certification drawn by third-party international quality assurance team.
Their aim is to distribute a wide range of products in terms of size, shape, dimensions, all customized as per the different industries or commercial setting’s needs.
The key behind managing both the ventures is – his vision to snuggle the global market with competitive & quality products.
What makes Kassem Mohamad Ajami so prolific in managing two ventures? His indulgence in innovation, engineering of products that are customized to implement and are circulated at rates that are easily accepted.
His aim is to target the global market by utilizing the rich resources & markets of all of Nigeria with steel product that not only just blends in any business process but works indirectly to help businesses reap further profits & long-term yields.
His approach being agile & adaptable has what led to the foundation of two big chains.
His premier enterprise Saba Steel Industrial Nigeria is dedicated to engineering steel structures to industrial sectors mainly – Aluminum smelters, heavy industries, cement plants, storage depots, truck bodies and more.
Another one, Metal Berg Manufacturing Limited is a member of Saba Steel Industrial Nigeria Limited and is focused on steel construction & fabrication. The company manufactures pre-engineered buildings (PEB) for warehouses & multi-storey structures and wide range of services including Fabrication & Erection of Steel Structures, Silos and Tanks, Manufacturing of Cylinders and Overhead Cranes, TMT Rebars, Ship scrapping.
The Reflective Supply Chain in Manufacturing
The well publicised plight of manufacturing companies in the United Kingdom has led to an ever increasing demand for reduction of internal costs and now, more than ever, the focus has been on the cost of supply chains. The nature of supply chains and their structure is however often overlooked, and many of the internal costs can be eliminated by examining the overall supply chain strategy. By developing a supply chain that reflects the needs of the internal customers, many of the previously unidentified inefficiencies can be eliminated and subsequent performance improved.
There are three categories of product that can be used to define the supply chain strategy for a typical manufacturing company. Firstly there are the core products that are manufactured on a continuous basis and form the bulk of production volume in any given period. Secondly there are products that are manufactured regularly to meet customer requirements or to satisfy a recurring demand, and finally there are those products that are manufactured to specific customer requirements on an irregular basis. The three categories are sometimes referred to as Runners, Repeaters and Strangers.
There is an unquestionable link between the classification of these product types and the supply chain organisation that is required to support them. Each classification requires a different supplier strategy and stock policy in order to maximise inventory turnover. For example, replenishment systems such as Kanban may be highly applicable to components used in the Runners group because of the rates of consumption but applied to the Strangers group may introduce higher volumes of inventory on long lead time parts. The selection of the appropriate supply chain strategies will therefore lead to two distinct systems, one for the Runners and one for the Strangers. The Runners supply chain will tend to be highly efficient with a focus on component cost, quality and the suppliers delivery performance. The Strangers supply chain however, will need to respond to the irregular customer orders and the focus will be more on supplier lead time and the ability to meet these hard to forecast demands. The Repeaters are likely to incorporate both systems and require case by case decisions on which approach to follow for each component. The Repeaters therefore typically lend themselves to strategic stock holding which requires regular review but gives a defined capability for production.
The classification of the products in this way identifies the needs of production and in turn identifies the type of supply chain support required to achieve the desired output volumes. More importantly, and often over-looked, strategies based on this simple analysis are more likely to support the customers requirements.
Having defined the groups of products and the styles of supply chains required to support the differing needs of these product groups, the supply chains themselves must be developed in accordance with these needs. The resulting supplier development programme can therefore be tailored to suit the different supply chain requirements and so support production needs and in turn the end customer in the most appropriate way.
There are many tools and techniques available for improving overall supply chain performance, but few have been developed to help define a supplier development strategy.
One technique called ‘Supplier Positioning’ maps customer perception of the risk and importance of its suppliers and also most importantly, the suppliers perception of the customer in terms of importance and ease of business. This can provide useful information by identifying which suppliers are not likely to support supply chain improvements. For example, many manufacturing companies will continue to purchase relatively low volumes of parts from large retailers, whose part cost, quality and delivery is beyond the customer’s control due to the supplier’s perception of the customer being ‘low value’. These suppliers therefore have a disproportionate ability to detrimentally affect the manufacturing capability of their smaller customers.
In improving the supply chain and creating the development strategy, ‘Supplier Positioning’ can be used to ensure that the integrity of supply will be maintained by giving an understanding of how the various suppliers view the customer and the degrees of interaction required to maintain good relationships. This technique has an additional benefit in that it identifies potential weaknesses or mismatches in the supply chain relationships which, once highlighted, can be resolved.
The application of product classification and then developing the supply chain to suit the production requirements can undoubtedly help identify the strategic direction for supply chain improvement. The resulting activities will not only develop a leaner supply chain but will introduce greater control of inventory and a better understanding of the needs of the internal customers.
There is an extricable link between the three main influences within any manufacturing company. Identification of customer demand, production capability and the flow of materials to satisfy this must combine with clearly defined parameters and processes to generate the required output. Failings in any one area will cause a domino effect that will result in failure to deliver on time in full and ultimately unhappy customers.
The rate of demand defines the requirements for capability and material flow but must never be isolated or ignored as is often the case. Changes in demand or customer orders can only be fulfilled efficiently by having a balanced circle.
Each function in this model is dependent on the others and must therefore work within the same boundaries to achieve a common goal. The key therefore to reducing the inefficiencies in a supply chain lies in understanding and managing these relationships which is the start point for achieving a reflective supply chain.
Healthy Eating Myth 1: Low-Fat Food Products Are Good for You
A few months ago I published an article about why certain manufactured food products keep you fat, and are not a suitable solution for healthy weight loss.
I focused on the problems associated with the low fat approach to weight loss, which have been revealed by Harvard School of Public Health. Remember, this highly regarded institution branded low fat food products to be more dangerous than consuming moderate amounts of saturated fat? And their call was that it’s time to end the “low-fat myth!”
As Harvard reported the main issue is that when fat is removed from foods as part of the manufacturing process, it has to be replaced. Invariably that something is sugar or other refined carbohydrates. The way in which the body processes high dietary intakes of sugars and carbohydrates eventually leads to body fat – of the type and distribution associated with serious illness including insulin resistance, Type 2 Diabetes, cardiovascular problems.
I also reported that an alarming number of profit-driven food manufacturers continue to produce an ever increasing range of these food products which they still assert to be the “healthy option”. Truly shocking! But their mission to flood the market with unhealthy, even dangerous, sugar-laden products continues, despite the well-publicised recent alarms about the health risks posed by sugar consumption.
The fact that, as I touched on in my previous article, the low-fat diet is a potential pathway to type 2 diabetes, makes it clear that it is the least appropriate weight-loss solution for those already diagnosed with the disease. Yet dieticians and other diabetics specialists working in the NHS in the UK advocate just that – read their diet facts sheets and see for yourself that manufactured low-fat food products are actually recommended! I have come across this in my own clinical practice several times in recent months for patients of both sexes, in newly diagnosed patients, in those who have been struggling to manage their blood sugars sometimes even for several years, and in cases of gestation diabetes. Even more shocking!
It is no wonder that some patients with Type 2 diabetes struggle to get their blood sugar levels to the magical “6” mark when the very products they being advised to take by supposed experts is so way off the mark!
For healthy weight loss – especially for those with diabetes it’s essential to ditch this damaging style of diet and boycott manufactured low-fat food products in preference for plentiful amounts of healthy fats!
By ensuring that a full complement of vital nutrients are consumed through an individualised tailor-made plan, the health problems associated with other diets are avoided.
Medical Device Contract Manufacturing
Contract manufactured medical devices are widely used in a variety of markets such as critical care, emergency room, home health care and industrial laboratories. The critical care section includes medical devices for respiratory therapy and operating rooms. The emergency room includes the medical devices for the cardiac lab, labor and delivery. Medical devices used in home health care such as a doctor?s office and medical laboratories can also be manufactured on contract basis. Contract manufactured medical products usually include simple tubing sets, very complicated bio-sensors, and even ultra-precision devices made from plastics, metals, electronics and ceramics.
Medical device contract manufacturing companies offer clean room and non-clean room assembly, testing and packaging services for class I, class II and class III medical devices. Class I medical devices do not cause any harm to the user and are very simple in design, compared to the other two devices. In class II devices there are special controls to ensure safety and effectiveness in addition to the general control. Class III devices require pre-market approval to ensure device safety and effectiveness.
Medical device contract manufacturers also provide sterile and non-sterile products. The assembly processes and capabilities of medical device contract manufacturing range from simple products such as tubing sets to ultra precision electro-mechanical devices. Most contract manufacturers deal with high volume disposable and low volume reusable device manufacturing. They also have a full service injection molding program such as injection mold design, fabrication and clean room injection molding. The cost of machines for the injection molding process is high. The design of the right mold is also difficult. Hence most customers go for contract manufacturers for the injection molding processes.
Some medical device contract manufacturers offer ethylene oxide and radiation sterilization coordination. A wide range of process capabilities, giving more care towards the quality, responsiveness and efficient operation are the main features of an ideal medical device contract manufacturer.
Medical device contract manufacturers usually work closely with the original equipment manufacturing companies. The contract manufacturing of medical devices includes traditional, high quality contract manufacturing services. It also introduces automation design and building capabilities.
Mechanical Fasteners
Mechanical fasteners, when properly used as recommended by the manufacturer, almost always assure safe and secure attachment of a fastened product. In commercial and residential applications, injuries resulting from mechanical attachment failures have often been attributed to inappropriate usage of products, improper installation procedures, or the failure of a poorly manufactured fastening product. When a product becomes disconnected from its point of attachment, serious personal injury can result.
As the retained construction expert witness participating in numerous personal injury claims resulting from loose or falling components in commercial buildings, hotels, hospitals, airports, and housing projects, I have been involved in assessing, analyzing, and determining the reasons for the attachment failures of many types of products.
I have observed, during onsite inspections and investigations, a variety of reasons why products become disconnected from their intended location. Reasons why products become detached and dangerous leading to severe personal injuries include but are not limited to:
· Missing fasteners
· Missing fastener parts
· Inappropriate fasteners for the particular product being attached
· Missed connections of the fastening hardware (failure of the fastener to anchor into backing or wall studs)
· Poorly designed systems that have failed due to lack of structural integrity
· Over tightened, stripped and abused fasteners
· Damaged and fatigued hardware
· Destroyed fasteners or substrate from repeated attempts to secure the fastener
· Poorly manufactured component parts of the fastener
· Substituted import fasteners in place of specified domestic products
The attachment failures that I have observed are usually the result of one or more recurring problems:
In commercial applications such as in a hotel environment, it is not uncommon to have multiple locations using identical products and fastening systems such as in guest rooms or common area hallways. One example of a multiple location installed product would be a guest room headboard. The headboards are usually attached to the headwall with a cleated system. This cleat system is often found loose or detached due to improper anchoring of the original installation hardware. Ornamental art pieces or wall sconces installed along a common corridor become dislodged due to abuse by patrons and or attachment failures occur due to improper usage of wall anchoring hardware. Another example is often seen in hastily or improperly installed door closer hardware. Serious personal injury claims can result from improper preparation of the receptor areas (point of attachment) where stripped, over torqued, or sheared screws ultimately lead to poor or inadequate attachment of the applied hardware products.
A key factor leading to personal injury is the lack of proper maintenance policies and procedures. In many cases, improper maintenance is found to be another prevalent cause of mechanical fastener failures which has resulted in severe injury claims. Maintenance personnel that are untrained or lack the proper tools to perform repairs often make the decision that the needed corrective actions they have taken to make the repairs have been properly completed. In many cases, the corrective maintenance actions actually created a much more dangerous situation, where a once minor problem became a significant factor contributing to a serious personal injury.
There are probably as many different types of mechanical fasteners as there are products that need fastening. Mechanical fasteners can be as simple as a common staple, nut, bolt, nail, or screw. They can be as complicated as a proprietary connection that requires specialized tools to manipulate the connective surfaces. What is most basic to mechanical fasteners is that they must be used appropriately and as designed by the manufacturer of the fastener.
Most fasteners are designed for a specific application. Manufacturers have engineered their products to evaluate the weight of the object being connected, the substrate that the object will ultimately be connected to, the potential for expansion and contraction or movement of the substrate, and what environment the fastener must function within. Types of materials that sub-surfaces are made from affect the performance of any fastener. It is important to have information as to the component makeup of the point of attachment to insure that the fastener chosen will meet the needs of the applied components. Knowledge of the proper use of fasteners is even more critical in harsh environments. Points of connection with acidic substrates or where temperature, moisture or chemical changes are frequent make choosing the proper fastener even more significant.
On a very basic level, the best fastener for your application must include a calculation to hold the desired object with a margin of safety. Installation methods and techniques must be tailored and designed to exceed the possible abuses that can occur to protect the safety of the patrons of an establishment.
For example, my construction company has installed wall hung pictures throughout hotel rooms and hotel common areas. A small ten pound picture and frame properly attached to a wall does not appear to be a major safety hazard. However, in the most basic installation scenario when hanging this example decoration, my crews have utilized a continuous cleated system that works with a cam lock that assures not only the positioning of the picture, but also assures that the picture and frame cannot be removed from the wall.
If that ten pound picture fell off of the wall, or was hanging over a bed in a hotel room and fell off onto a guest while that guest was sleeping, that small picture and frame could create a serious injury. If the ten pound picture and frame was only attached to the wall using a hook and wire such as would be common in a residential application, the hotel would be negligent in the method of attachment by not protecting its patrons from a possible predictable injury.
While using the hanger wire and hook is reasonable and acceptable in a personal residential application, it could be considered negligent and inappropriate in a commercial application. The possibility that an injury could result from the inadvertent movement and detachment of the frame from the wall when the picture was accidentally brushed in normal usage must be foreseen. The planned potential abuse of this example picture and frame when installed with this locking cleat system answers several requirements that any hotel or commercial location should be concerned with.
1. The hotel should be concerned first with the safety of its patrons.
2. The condition and appearance of the hotel room is important to the management of the hotel.
3. The picture is secure from theft by guests.
With the proper usage of a locking cleated fastening system, the example picture and frame are securely attached. Making certain that the artwork remains level and straight, the design element of the room is maintained precisely as planned by the designers for the patrons to enjoy safely.
As a wide range and variety of wall conditions exist, the requirements of safe and proper attachments vary with the site conditions. Fasteners manufactured for almost any kind of wall and substrate exist, however, are often misused leading to personal injuries that could have been prevented. On different personal injury cases, different causes have been determined to have led to fastener failures.
It has been found that improper usage of fasteners has been the result of:
1. Attempting to lower the product installation costs.
2. Architects or engineers have specified inappropriate products for attachment.
3. Architects omit fastening instructions, so installers choose inappropriate fasteners for the product.
4. Installation techniques were wrong for the installed products.
5. Time constraints limited the quality of work, and due to a rushed schedule, hardware and fasteners were omitted by the installation contractors.
Representing both Plaintiff and Defense in personal injury claims, a variety of entities have been blamed for injuries resulting from improper attachment of installed products. In some large hotel cases, there are multiple tiers of responsibility that begin with poor choices made by an architect, designer or engineer. Contract installers, not questioning the installation requirements, project managers and team evaluators hurrying workmen to complete an installation and the lack of a thorough examination of the site after installation is completed. Finally, maintenance workers, maids or janitors lacking the qualifications to properly evaluate the site conditions on a daily basis fail to alert management that dangerous conditions need repair. In many cases, hidden defective installation practices and/or correct verification of proper attachments after the products were installed have led to personal injuries making the management or owner of the property the primary responsible party.
When evaluating an injury from the defense perspective, some incident investigations have shown and proven that the abusive actions of a patron created the dangerous conditions leading to the injury. While serious injuries may have resulted to that patron, the actions of the patron sometimes eliminated the obligations of the property owner or management.
Mike Panish is a licensed general contractor in the State of California. He is also a commercial cabinet & millwork contractor experienced in manufacturing and installing architectural products. He has been the retained expert on many cases that have resulted from improper usage of fasteners.
Some of the types of cases where he has been retained to inspect, analyze, and evaluate attachment claims and responsibilities by both plaintiff and defense are as follows:
· Head board detachments in hotel rooms.
· Mirrored surfaces, applied vertically and horizontally.
· Overhead architectural panel systems in private residences.
· Architectural millwork in commercial buildings.
· T-grid ceiling systems in commercial buildings.
· Art work and framed mirrors in hotel rooms and common areas.
· Head trauma cases where casework has fallen on patrons.
· Door and hardware component detachment and failures.
· Book cases and shelving installation defects in housing tract developments.
· Garage storage shelving units in housing tract and condominium developments.
· Garage door component attachments and failures in residential and commercial properties.
· Kitchen and bathroom cabinet detachment and component failures.
· Guard railings and fencing attachment points.
· Cosmetic concealment in themed attractions such as component attachments for restaurants, amusement and entertainment venues.
· Improper installation of permanently attached products in municipal buildings and parks.
· Improper attachment of furnishings and cabinets in residences, hotels and commercial malls, casinos and cruise ships.
Understanding the Importance of Quality in Manufacturing and Services
Why it should be foremost given the current political atmosphere.
It’s something that’s heard all the time now: “They don’t make ’em like they used to” or “Another product made outside of the United States.” Indeed, to some degree, there’s a ring of truth to these sentiments; unfortunately, many areas of commerce – notably the aforementioned electronics sector – are being outsourced to countries such as China on a widespread basis, so much so that many consumers feel value has paid the ultimate price. Case in point: The home audio enthusiast market saw a resurgence of turntables over the past decade or so, driven by a millennial demographic just getting their feet wet in the “vinyl resurgence” pool, but in the mad scramble to compete and churn out these record players as fast as they were being purchased, many major companies outsourced their specs to Asia-based entities that ended up cutting corners to meet a price point.
As a result, more than a few series of turntables from this particular brand suffered from poor build, unreliable drive motors, design snafus such as warped platters and more – all of which compromise a vinyl playback system’s performance in critical ways.
Of course, this is just a broad, random example, but our point is that quality in manufacturing and services, especially in our current somewhat heated political atmosphere, should be first and foremost – a sentiment that has not been lost on President Donald J. Trump, who has given US manufacturing representatives a different viewpoint to consider when it comes to consumer manufactured products.
In short, President Trump wants American manufacturing to step up to the plate, and it begins and ends with “the Q word.”
Why should this be first and foremost when taken in a manufacturing context? It is easy to falter in an optimistic market and revel in manufacturing optimism; to be blunt, it is the only sustainable pillar that drives excellence in business. Value in a company that manufactures goods not only helps the economy meet customer and industry expectations, it can keep costs down. Managing excellence is crucial for small businesses in particular, because well-built products help to maintain customer satisfaction and loyalty while reducing the risk and cost of replacing faulty goods.
Let’s take a quick look at the primary elements of this subject:
• Meeting Customer Expectations – Customers expect a company to deliver great products, and when it doesn’t they quickly look for alternatives. Distinction is critical to satisfying customers and retaining their loyalty so they continue to buy in the future.
• Managing a Reputation – Excellence influences a company’s reputation, as poor build or a product failure (like the turntable example we mentioned earlier) can create negative publicity and damage a reputation.
• Meeting Industry Standards – Accreditation to a recognized standard may be essential for dealing with certain customers or complying with legislation.
• Managing Costs – Poor characteristics increases costs, as we alluded to, because without an effective control system in place a company may incur the cost of analyzing nonconforming goods or services to determine the root causes.
For manufacturing firms, it’s important to ramp up process training, management commitment and involvement in all teams when improving purity control, and it wouldn’t be a bad idea to take a look at suppliers, as well. Researching, studying and evaluating alone will improve this area – and parts – and top-shelf products equal sales for the long-term, all while eliminating consumer mistrust in manufacturing.
President Trump has set us on the right course… now we need to all do our part to improve US manufacturing.
Why a US Based Manufacturer Is the Best Choice for Your Products
“The “Made in the US” stamp is a powerful tool to use in marketing. When you invest and contribute to your community, this encourages the consumers to buy locally made products. In the same way, buying a product made by a US manufacturer gives some sense of patriotism for most Americans.
The “American-made” or “Made in the US” stamp can be powerful in marketing your specialized products. Buying a product that is locally manufactured results in giving permanent jobs and healthy economic growth to the US economy.
Being aware of well-maintained standards of manufacturing and labor, as well as the great quality of products found in the US, makes a consumer confident about a product made by a US manufacturer.
If you choose to outsource to an overseas manufacturer, you usually face the risk of giving away your money, as well as your ideas and innovation to foreign people. There are several risks involved in choosing a manufacturer far from your business operations.
When you encounter problems, you will have to spend time and money – required to travel overseas to correct the problems. That’s why it’s better to avoid complications and communication issues brought about by language barriers, and to make sure your ideas are protected by choosing a US–based manufacturer.
Higher quality of manufacturing: In regards to manufacturing in the US against outsourcing an overseas manufacturer, it is a fact that the US has higher standards in terms of quality and labor compared to manufacturers in several different countries.
Manufacturers based in the US need to follow strict labor laws, and have good quality work conditions for their employees. It is hard to debate on choosing a manufacturer when you are very much aware of the standards that need to be maintained by manufacturers based in the US.
In many other countries, there are manufacturing companies that have overworked and underpaid workers. Poor working environments can have a negative effect on workers, which often leads to poor quality products.
Opting for a US-based manufacturer is the best choice for any business, especially when it is also located in the US. A company or business that chooses a US manufacturer is making an investment in the US labor market and economy – since it provides permanent jobs to residents, and contributes to the economy in a positive way.
Convenience plus On-time Delivery: If your product is highly specialized and requires reliability, on-time delivery plus quick turnaround, you should hire a manufacturer that is based in the US. When you are in the business of selling specialized goods, you don’t want to take the risk of supplying your customers with defective products.
It is just like throwing money away, since in the long run, you will most likely spend more money on a poorly made product. That is the problem with majority of foreign manufacturers. You are facing the risk of getting products that are too defective to sell, or not up to the mark in terms of quality.
You may think that you are saving money since they are cheap to make. However, the truth is, they are cheaply made. Aside from that, products that are made overseas and shipped back to the US can take too long to arrive. Furthermore, weeks can become months, if ever there is some delay in manufacturing.
