Lubricants are essential to the operation of most equipment. Unscheduled equipment downtime can cost a company thousands of dollars per day. Companies must understand what capabilities a supplier must offer concerning diverse chemistry options and formulation expertise to meet their needs. Then, they can assess their supply reliance requirements and risk reduction.
Experience
Working with a lubricant supplier is an ongoing relationship. The company you work with must have the technical expertise and problem-solving understanding to help resolve issues when they arise. A well-established lubricant supplier VA also has facilities that can meet or exceed quality standards. These facilities include a warehouse that is big enough to allow them to organize and store products systematically. This ensures that orders are clear and prevent costly mistakes. A lubricant supplier’s warehouse needs enough space for bulk storage of various lubricants like gear, motor, and turbine oils. Knowing they have adequate transportation for getting the product from their distribution centers to their customers is also a plus.
Reliability
A reliable lubricant manufacturer and supplier will have facilities large enough to manage, organize, and store their products successfully. This will help prevent basic mistakes, such as mixed orders, from happening and ensure that the quality of your lubricants is maintained. A good lubricant supplier will be transparent and maintain fair client practices. They will also take accountability for any issues, quality concerns, or mishaps that may occur. In addition to ensuring that their lubricants are consistent, a reliable supplier can provide quality technical support. This can include providing expert guidance and training to customers and channel partners. The level of technical support required should be carefully evaluated to ensure it matches a specific company’s needs.
Certifications
When choosing a lubricant supplier, it is essential to evaluate the strengths and capabilities of each. This can be done by assessing the lubricant suppliers’ certifications. Professional certifications are a great way to ensure that employees in your lubrication department have the right expertise for their roles. There are several available certifications, including the MLA and CLS. The MLA is the most popular, with many manufacturing plant personnel holding this certification. Some lubricant suppliers offer private-label fluids, blending someone else’s chemistry and selling it under their brand name. Understanding the lubricant supplier’s labeling process and whether all registrations, certifications, and food contact notifications pass through to the end-use customer is essential.
Pricing
Lubricant pricing is a highly volatile commodity. Pricing is a function of oil price fluctuations, production trends, distribution costs, and profit. In addition, end-use companies must evaluate a supplier’s capability to manage supply chain complexities that can occur. Unexpected or long lead times from a lubricant supplier can result in costly production delays and lost revenue opportunities. It’s also essential to understand a lubricant supplier’s global operations footprint. A company with numerous facilities in various regions may offer multiple shipping options and local/regional tax benefits that can offset pricing volatility. It can also provide a backup for addressing unexpected shortages or disruptions. A supplier’s capabilities should be evaluated to determine whether they can deliver a comprehensive lubricant toolbox when needed.
Customer Service
Providing excellent customer service is vital to your business and will help your customers feel valued. Customers treated well will want to do business with you again and recommend you to their colleagues and friends. Quality customer service involves exceeding company protocols to make a customer happy. It means defusing situations, calming upset customers, and providing helpful information. Lubricant suppliers should also be available for technical support to assist their customers. This can include on-site filtration, oil sampling, and problem-solving expertise. The ability to provide these services will set one supplier apart from the rest. Ask your lubricant supplier about their training programs and quality assurance policies. Visiting the lubricant manufacturer and distributor would be best to see their facilities.
