Comprehensive kitting service proves popular

The advantages of a kitting service are becoming more widely recognised by smaller OEMs according to SD Products. As manufacturing systems, processes and infrastructure have evolved and been refined over recent years, so has the ability of some suppliers to provide cost savings to a much wider cross section of OEMs that are using a variety of small parts in their products, including fasteners.

Amongst these has been SD Products, a business established in 1979 and which provides an extensive range of plastic and spring steel fastening solutions to manufacturing industry. "As manufacturers have changed the ways in which they produce, so we have changed the ways in which we can supply" says SD Products managing director Darren Lee. "Clearly the starting point is with the design teams, helping them to ensure that the optimum products are specified for an application: but now we go further and engage with both the production and procurement teams as well in order to provide kits that allow for reduced inventory, speedier assembly and zero wastage on the shop floor".

SD states that even small, specialist OEMs with limited production runs can experience the practical and cost saving benefits of its kitting service, and that it has been steadily building its customer base in this way.