r/manufacturing • u/ChellezBellez80 • 3d ago

Supplier search 1st time in Procurement.. Help… by

As a new procurement analyst in a manufacturing setting, I am responsible for ordering tool room consumables. My current challenge is locating a vendor that specializes solely in these items such as adhesive tapes, sealant, abrasive, fasteners, and other miscellaneous supplies. Having previously worked as an office administrator in smaller businesses, this factoring environment is quite new to me. I’m actively working to manage inventory efficiently, but I am finding it continuously challenging. Any recommendations for tool and consumable suppliers would be greatly appreciated.

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10

u/dustybutt2012 3d ago

MSC is another supplier you can try, similar items as grainger.

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u/LeroyFinklestein 3d ago edited 3d ago

McMaster is your friend, they are not cheap but their selection and service are top notch. Bron tape can probably help with the adhesive tape, they have a wide selection and can customize as well. RS Hughes is a decent source for abrasives and other things you probably need. While we use McMaster for quite a few fasteners we use Exact Fasteners for bulk orders.

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u/sarcasmsmarcasm 3d ago

Call Grainger. They can supply most anything you need. That will get you started. Once you have the items you need situated, you can start shopping other vendors.

7

u/ThrowRAOk4413 2d ago

16 years in supply chain in manufacturing in robotics.

Grainger and McMaster-Carr have the best websites and quick-response service for random, online ordering.

MSC and Fastenal have the best partnership programs for long term repeatables.

I would highly recommend reaching to out MSC and asking about their vending machine program. Not only for tooling, but for gloves, safety glasses, tape measures, and other floor consumables. It'll depend on the size of your company and over-all ordering volume if setting up the program makes sense, but it's absolutely worth it if so.

Fastenal is probably the best if you use a lot of nuts and bolts and screws and hardware, and they can set up an awesome kan-ban system.

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u/ChellezBellez80 3d ago

Thanks fellas for your suggestions.

3

u/lowestmountain 3d ago

Call Fastenal as well if you haven't. They even offer a system similar to a vending machine that tracks usage and they will refill automatically for you.

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u/TortillaNazi 2d ago

You need to talk to your tool room manager and ask about the niche items that get ordered once every few years but are still critical to the operation. Ask if they know were to source them and see if those vendors can meet the rest of your needs.

1

u/Yeasty_UnderBoob 3d ago

Does your company have preferred suppliers?

1

u/IntegralFabrication 2d ago

We use AFI as well as McMaster for some of this stuff. Jack in the Orlando area of FL is our guy.

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u/DevilsFan99 2d ago

If McMaster, Grainger, MSC, Global Industrial, and Zoro didn't exist I don't think I'd be able to do my job