Exploding iStuff
By · CommentsiExplosives?
Have you heard that European authorities are investigating “The Case of the Exploding iPhones?” Apparently a number of iPhones and iPods have exploded or caught fire over the past month in Britain, France, Holland and Sweden.
In June, an iPod was blamed for a car fire in Sweden that nearly incinerated a dog. In July, a man in Holland said he left his iPhone in the car and returned 15 minutes later to find it had caught fire, causing severe damage to the passenger seat. In early August, the father of an 11-year-old girl in Liverpool reported that he was holding his daughters iPod Touch when he felt it get really hot, heard a hissing noise and saw vapor. He said he threw it out the back door and “within 30 seconds there was a pop, a big puff of smoke and it went 10 feet in the air.” The father claims that he contacted Apple and the Cupertino-based company offered him a full refund – on the condition that the family sign an agreement not tell anyone about the iPod that went boom. A few weeks later, a French teenager’s eye was injured by flying glass when the screen of the iPhone 3G he was holding suddenly exploded. The phone, which belonged to his girlfriend, was only two months old. Then, just last Tuesday (August 25) a security guard in southeastern France told authorities that the iPhone he bought three months ago for 600 Euros ($850) exploded in his face while he was typing a text message.
Apple reportedly called the exploding screens “isolated incidents.” But France’s consumer watchdog agency opened an investigation after the teenage boy was injured. Now, the EU is also asking questions about the 200 million iPods and 26 million iPhones that have been sold across Europe.
Hmmmmm . . . I wonder where Apple gets their components?
Emerging Component Standards for Wind Energy Industry
By · CommentsWind energy is hot right now, and getting hotter. And, as the wind energy industry heats up, so is the discussion about standards for wind turbine components. Who will set standards for all the anchor bolts, lock nuts, rigging, blades, concrete, etc., and what will they be? Fastener manufacturers, for example, are all abuzz over whether the millions of fasteners needed for proposed wind farms across the country will use the American inch standard or the metric standard favored by Europeans in the industry. Will the fasteners be stainless steel or hot dipped galvanized metal? And who will decide? Will each of the nearly 100 different companies manufacturing the turbines set their own standards or will there be an International Building Code?
Questions like these were flying around the floor at the Windpower 2009 Conference in Chicago last May. And on November 3-5, the American Wind Energy Association is hosting a conference in Detroit where industry leaders, project developers, wind manufacturers and component suppliers will all gather for – among other attractions – a supply chain workshop. Topics up for discussion include things like major component sourcing, value chain services and re-tooling for the wind industry. Expected to attend are manufacturers and suppliers of a wide range of mechanical and electrical components, including generators, hydraulics, sensors, hardware, drives, power distribution, composites, cabling, big steel, castings, forgings, bearings and gearboxes. They’re all going to want to talk standards.
I, for one, am fascinated by these debates, which are going to shape the growth of the wind industry over the next decade and beyond. I’ll be keeping an eye on new standards as they appear, and hope you will comment below about any developments you’ve heard about in the Wind Energy Industry.
How to Avoid Component Shortage Nightmares
By · CommentsShortages happen, and there’s nothing more stressful than tracking down the right component with a gun to your head. You need it now. You need it to be right – not a fake, a refurb, or something that’s ‘almost’ right. And you need to know you’re not paying way too much because the supplier or broker knows you need it now.
The key to avoiding the pitfalls of component shortage nightmares is to do your homework before the shortage hits the fan.
Start by researching your suppliers to find out who you can trust and who can deliver – not just for routine purchases, but in shortage situations. Knowing who has been reliable in the past can give you a go-to list for future shortages.
Next, do some research on the secondary market to speed up your search when components get scarce. Often, a shortage means a frantic website search which reveals plenty of people advertising the part you need. But most want you to call for pricing and availability. They may tell you it’s in another time zone, or in an overseas warehouse, while they buy time to track it down. Before you know it, you’ve lost a day or more and still don’t have full and accurate information. You can call on brokers to find the part, hoping to get it faster. But the more desperate you are, the more likely the broker will open with a high price and negotiate up from there.
Finally, make sure you – and the suppliers you’re researching – know all the angles, from alternate parts options and packaging requirements to customs fees and regulations. There’s nothing worse than thinking you’ve solved a shortage problem only to find out that the shipment has been held up at port.
With today’s tight requirement windows and high-speed global supply chains, it’s important to prepare ahead. Finding out NOW who you can trust to locate the part you need quickly and accurately, then follow through from warehouse to delivery, can take a whole lot of stress out of your shortage situations.
Welcome to the Bluefin Blog!
By · CommentsThis is the site for the latest industry news, timely technology component updates, and valuable tips from our experts on sourcing, procurement, and business strategy. But it’s more than that. We want the Bluefin Blog to be an interactive forum where people from across the industry can post comments, share insights and get fast, reliable and relevant information. When we have news you can use, we’ll share it here. And we’ll let you contribute to the conversation, too.
We’ve got a lot of folks at Bluefin ready to share their thoughts, discoveries, and some really creative solutions. Here are some of the people you’ll be hearing from, starting with myself:
David Scribner: Chief of Quality and Operations
David has been in the Supply Chain Management arena for more than a decade. His service within the U.S Army’s Intelligence Branch helped develop an attention to detail, a positive attitude and an ability to build systems with superior accuracy and efficiency that has earned him a national reputation. Over the years, he has given multiple TV and radio interviews, sharing his insights on Global Business Strategy. David heads up our quality systems and oversees the entire AS9120 SAE ISO 9001:2000 certified process.
Travis Thoman: VP Aerospace/Military Supply
Travis’ expertise stems from his service in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Nebraska 739, a Trident Submarine. During multiple tours, Travis performed duties in supply, quality assurance, and maintenance for the ship’s mechanical systems. It takes team work and a critical sense of urgency to keep a naval vessel humming at operational perfection, and Travis carries those skills into his work as the lead of all Military and Aerospace material fulfillment at Bluefin. After his military service he worked in technical sales and purchasing for the Allegheny York Company, a manufacturer, and Parker Hannifin distributor, where he traveled around the United States and South Africa helping clients solve technical issues. In 2001, he launched his own consulting firm, which he sold when he joined Bluefin. As a member of our team, he has helped take the entire Military/Aerospace materials campaign within our company to a whole new level. His goals are simple: “to establish and grow a successful client and vendor base that becomes the premier source for attaining hard to find hardware and components in the industry.”
Jeff Smith: Senior Procurement Specialist
Jeff comes to Bluefin with over 10 years of sales and customer service experience across several industries including corporate payroll and pharmaceuticals. His favorite part of working at Bluefin is “the opportunity to work so closely with my clients.” In his spare time, Jeff enjoys spending time with his 4 year old daughter.
Christine Lutheran: VP Procurement
Christine is second to none when it comes to tracking down hard-to-find and obsolete material. She taught high school for a few years in Cocoa Beach, Fla. before making a career selling milspec/aerospace materials. We’re glad she made the switch! A decade later, she holds a host of Fortune 500 clients, who rely on her to find materials that cannot be sourced elsewhere. When lines go down, Christine has a reputation for saving the day. She currently heads up our purchasing initiative from York , PA.
Tiffany Solano
Tiffany Solano has been on the Bluefin team for the past 6 years. She started in our warehouse and quality department and has consistently moved from position to position within our system. Tiff has worked along side purchasing, data entry, customer service and expediting, before finally landing in OEM Sales where she currently handles 2 dozen active accounts.
