1. When supply brakes ambitions
A few years ago, we met the leader of a factory specializing in high-end pool cues. His company had remarkable know-how and a well-established reputation… but a very real difficulty was holding back its expansion.
Despite the precise specifications of the wood orders placed, the shaft dowels he received were far from being adapted to his exceptional market. Dimensions were respected, but no other essential wood characteristics were taken into account: stability, density, straightness of grain, colour, etc.
The result? A raw material that failed to meet the standards of excellence expected by his customers.
2. When low-priced raw wood costs more than it earns
This non-compliance had significant repercussions on operations. As soon as the dowels were received, part of the specialized workforce had to sort, filter and eliminate the unqualified pieces. Time and talent are wasted on activities that are not aligned with the company’s core business: making prestige pool cues.
And that wasn’t all. Unusable parts were piling up in the warehouse, blocking considerable space and tying up vital cash. Unvalued inventory represented the equivalent of a full year’s production, unbearable financial and logistical pressure.
Add to this unstable supply from one order to the next, and you have a chaotic supply chain… where deliveries dictate sales, not the other way around.
3. Starting from the forest to redefine quality
Faced with this situation, we did what felt like the right thing to do: listen and try to understand their needs. What characteristics are you looking for? The list was demanding to support the company’s positioning: impeccable visual appearance, specific density, dimensional stability, straight grain, and consistent colour.
Our diagnosis was clear: to achieve this level of precision in mass production, we had to influence the process right from the start: the forest.
Our integrated manufacturing process, from raw logs to dowelled components, involves identifying and selecting the best sections from the best trees. Every step of the VacuBright™ process has been designed to preserve the wood’s natural properties and guarantee absolute consistency.
4. Results to match ambitions
Today, this prospect has become a long-standing business partner. His brand is now one of the most prestigious in the world. Their impeccable quality and unparalleled consistency have helped position them as a world leader in their industry.
Sales now dictate supply, not the other way round. Its specialized teams, no longer burdened with non-value-added tasks, focus exclusively on what generates the most profits: manufacturing exceptional products.
5. What you can learn from this case
A good product starts long before it’s manufactured: controlling quality right from the source leads to greater consistency, precision and profitability. Your experts must be able to concentrate on what pays off: every hour spent compensating for supply defects is an hour lost on value creation. Supply must adapt to your sales, not the other way round: with a tailor-made process, you regain control over your growth.
Differentiation is built into the details: when each component is chosen for its precise properties, your final product speaks for itself… and sells better.
What if it was your turn to turn a constraint into a growth lever?
Let’s talk about your challenges. Contact us.