What Are The Post-Pandemic Priorities For OEMs?

Original Equipment Manufacturers, or OEMs for short, have been hit dramatically by the covid-19 pandemic. Indeed, by definition, the OEM is the client of a retail company and in charge of manufacturing some or all parts of the end product. Another company, the OEM buyers, will then sell the product to the final customers. Typically, you will find OEMs operate in the automotive and computer industries. For example, when you buy an Audi car, not all parts are manufactured by Audi, and some may be bought by the car manufacturer directly from OEMs. As a result, it’s not uncommon for car owners who drive different makes to be able to buy replacement parts such as brake pads from the same company. 

Cars and computers have been severely affected during the pandemic, as OEMs have not been able to provide the parts. Therefore, customers who have reached out to their trusted sellers for repair have had to wait several months before OEMs could deliver the missing parts. Anyone who’s tried to get their car or computer fixed in 2020 can testify of the delay and challenges! With vaccines rolling out around the world, it’s time for OEMs to tackle the lasting covid pandemic issues caused by shortages, lack of maintenance, and delivery disruptions. 

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Track missing parts

OEMs make products or parts for a complex product. Unfortunately, the pandemic has caused many first material providers to shut down temporarily, resulting in disrupted production. As the micro-production process restarts, OEMs need to create contingency plans for further disruptions. Indeed, shipping routes are still affected by covid restrictions and controls, which can cause delays. Therefore, it becomes necessary for OEMs to gain full visibility of the delivery process, encouraging their logistics partners to use GPS tracking. With a better understanding of where shipments are caught at control points, OEMs can manage production delays more efficiently. 

Address machinery maintenance

The coronavirus pandemic has not only kept machines still for several weeks or months. It’s also disrupted the maintenance schedule for the machinery. Indeed, heavy equipment relies on professional maintenance services, which need to be scheduled with contractors. Unfortunately, the pandemic delays mean that some OEM machines will not be serviced and fixed before several months (or years!). In the meantime, it’s essential for OEMs to preserve their production process by focusing on ad hoc repairs and improvements that can be made, such as professional paint https://www.mobilepaint.com/our-products/industrial-oem/ to manage rust and damage risks. Deep cleaning can also be scheduled to remove the accumulated dust and debris from heavy machinery. These simple maintenance tasks can help OEMs operate safely until they can arrange for servicing. 

Remove time and cost-demanding steps

With covid debts in the million range, it’s essential for OEMs to streamline the production process as they bounce back from the pandemic low. The introduction of smart machines is a crucial investment that can streamline production, as per https://www.rockwellautomation.com/en-dk/company/news/magazines/smart-machines-help-streamline-electric-vehicle-production.html. Automotive OEMs, for instance, could benefit from a data-centered approach that gathers machine data across the world to promote remote diagnostic, maintenance, and part assemblage. 

The future of the industry is in the hands of OEMs and their ability to manage covid disruptions. While things may be getting back to normal, it will take several years to recover from the delays and losses caused by the pandemic. A smart strategy can help manage, reduce, and remove disruptions altogether, through tracking, smart processes, and ad hoc minor maintenance. 

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