As an electronics manufacturing company, we focus on high volumes of production and quality supply. How can we manage supply chains, production and ongoing cycle? Is outsourcing to a third party provider advisable or we hire an additional employee to do the monitoring?

 

If you can hire qualified people your best bet is doing it within your company because that way your company has the best control over logistics and product quality.

 

If you can hire qualified people your best bet is doing it within your company because that way your company has the best control over logistics and product quality.

I agree, just hire additional people to do the job. you just have to train them well

 

If you can hire qualified people your best bet is doing it within your company because that way your company has the best control over logistics and product quality.

We are doing it right now and we hired approximately 5 new workers. Anyway, as their supervisor, I also asked their opinions what else can we do to improve the efficiency of our company. Well, they suggested to acquire the best tools, they even mentioned centralized compliance in order to address issues regarding supply chains, production and cycle. Do you have any ideas about this? TIA

 

I suggest you consult a business adviser or go on a business management course.

 

There are software packages for Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) that can track workflow from a production product release of X units thru purchasing of every widget thru assembly and test and shipping.

One such package is called Intuitive, I have worked with this package some. It as shortfalls as all these packages do, but it seemed capable of doing the job.

 

We are doing it right now and we hired approximately 5 new workers. Anyway, as their supervisor, I also asked their opinions what else can we do to improve the efficiency of our company. Well, they suggested to acquire the best tools, they even mentioned centralized compliance in order to address issues regarding supply chains, production and cycle. Do you have any ideas about this? TIA

Are you really in charge of them? Approximately 5...? Take a minute, count them. Are you being serious?

 

We are doing it right now and we hired approximately 5 new workers. Anyway, as their supervisor, I also asked their opinions what else can we do to improve the efficiency of our company. Well, they suggested to acquire the best tools, they even mentioned centralized compliance in order to address issues regarding supply chains, production and cycle. Do you have any ideas about this? TIA

You need people with good motivation, good problem solving, self-driven and an attitude to finalize towards a solution.
Good social skills also are important, clean language and politeness and culture inside their personal life.
Degree or papers count very little.

An employee whos on your side and happy to do over hours and keen to really solve is worth 3 regular people.
Forget these who are mainly policy driven youll get additional problems nothing else.
Look for people who act as if it would affect their own survival. Theyll come up with a solution, while others point to policies and have a cant be done attitude all too often.

Check up how quickly they are able to think into a system and adapt to it. Send them test customers. Demand reports often and early. Give more authority when you feel its appropiate. And check their social networks if any.

 

Outsourcing is giving away control and binds you to policies and contracts, they may exist on paper but policies may be used as excuse "cant do it". It might not be cheaper in the long run, might not be better for your customers and business partners.

If the outsourcer deals with larger volumes of the tasks and has good knowledge and standing experience, might be a cost and effort saver. Dont trust statements or acclaims at all. Id recommend to outsource some if appropiate and keep a hold some, so you can manage it directly. Dont outsource completely or you may face closure and takeover or at best, unexpected role changes.

Many companies for instance have outsourced catering and cleaning and security and often accounting to a certain extent, their providers deal with larger volumes and provide services according to standards. Implementing these standards, might cost you a lot for training, using outsourced services, its included + no employee contract.