The challenge
A leading European supplier of bath lifts wanted to relocate its European production to China. The goal was to become more competitive again against price-aggressive market participants. Product improvements were also to be incorporated into the series.
The special nature of the task
Since this is a very specific product for a limited target group, the quantities to be produced are fairly small. To reap the full benefits of production in China, the entire manufacturing process therefore had to be optimized.
Secrecy was also an important aspect. Under no circumstances should other suppliers be able enter the market with the same products.
The Dakoko solution
In the first step, Dakoko identified the core components responsible for quality. These included in particular the belt strap and the remote control. Potential for improvement was also identified in the control software.
Three manufacturers were identified for the central core components – base lift, belt and remote control. Each manufacturer deals only with its part of the product and does not know the other component manufacturers. Final assembly and the final functional test are carried out at Dakoko. Finished lifts are also stored here on behalf of the customer in order to compensate for fluctuations in sales.
Details that make the difference
The crucial innovation was the elimination of the various process steps that were previously necessary. By manufacturing in a machine without any manual handling, the process could be stabilized to the greatest extent possible, and the quality of the parts increased. After amortization of the equipment purchased specifically for this customer, the price was further reduced according to plan. This was already set out in the multi-year contract.
In addition, further optimizations were implemented in the areas of machining and tool design, further increasing productivity and even reducing costs for the customer beyond what was contractually agreed.
Benefits for the customer
- Significant reduction in procurement costs
- Implementation of product improvements and improvements to the control software
- Exclusivity agreement prevents competitors from obtaining the same product