Sound Familiar?
Tier I and II suppliers of automotive parts to manufacturers' plants in Mexico and Turkey share common "war stories." Products that are perfect when they're packed at your plant at home are mysteriously imperfect when they arrive at your customers' foreign plants. And one item perceived as damaged can mean the whole shipment is rejected.

Satisfying your customers' JIT needs - and keeping their long-term business - often means paying substantial extra freight costs to get a replacement shipment the next day. At $20,000 to $50,000 a shipment, that can make a substantial dent in your bottom line.

What's The Problem?
Is it a transportation problem? A packing problem? A handling problem? Exactly where does the problem lie? Whose responsibility is it to solve the problem? And, more importantly, what's the solution? After all, Mexico is a foreign country.

Unfortunately for us as Tier I or II suppliers, it's generally OUR responsibility to replace the shipment. And your customers often need the parts the next day, so you don't have time to make things right through the regular channels.

As Different As Night And Day.
Compounding the problem are the cultural differences that make approaches to running a plant - and problem solving - as different as night and day. What might be an easy problem to solve in your country becomes an insurmountable obstacle when managers don't understand or relate to cultural nuances and workplace hierarchy.

You may have contacted the "Execs" at your customer's home office - only to find out they can't intervene. And you've undoubtedly found that local plant manager who negotiates in a different manner than you are accustomed.

Using A Band-Aid?
One common "band-aid" approach used by Tier I and II companies is to employ the services of a local firm to act as your representative when shipments are delivered. However, this approach often makes things worse. The company may not meet ISO/QS standards and be familiar with how your manufacturing company conducts business. The cultural barriers still exist. And the Tier I or II supplier has no viable means of monitoring the work of the local company to ensure that their interests are being served.

Discover The IW Solution!
If this story sounds all too familiar, you're ready for a solution! And you've come to the right place. Through firsthand experience our qualified staff has cultivated European/American and Turkish working relationships, and come up with a process that benefits everyone involved. It solves your problems, improves your relationships with your customers, and positively impacts your bottom line.

To find out more about the IW solution, contact us today at 1-419-522-4779. Let's talk about how we can improve your bottom line.