Efficient Plant Nov./Dec. 2022 - 7

SPONSORED CONTENT
Some Things NEVER CHANGE
W
E HEAR A lot about change and experience it every
day. Innovation in technology alone could fill the pages
of this publication and barely scratch the surface. The
phrase " some things never change " has often been used negatively,
as in " same old, same old. " However, I would offer that some things
haven't changed, and that's a good thing.
Consider the accompanying photo. Dated 1948, it depicts a
Motion employee partnering with a customer to measure the center
distance of two shafts on a chain drive. I am certain that as I write
this, similar technical expertise is occurring in the markets that
our sales representatives and product specialists operate in and
around. Why? Because at Motion, we know that of the over 50
million transactions per year, more than 50% of all customer orders
are unplanned. Said another way, sometimes our customers don't
know they need a part before it fails. And often, the part number and
manufacturer name have worn off over time.
Many times, replacing the part isn't enough. Changes in
production requirements or equipment limitations require a deeper,
more technical understanding of the parts used. And then there
is the element of time, or the lack thereof. Inactive production
lines can cost our customers tens of thousands of dollars an hour,
sometimes more.
Keeping customers in uptime is where Motion thrives.
Our inventories are determined by using a scientific approach to
understanding " demand " and placing that inventory at the closest
point of potential usage. Time is of the essence, and we understand
that. In fact, 90% of the items we sell turn less than five times yearly.
And around 65% turn less than one time a year. Why? Because
we know that to keep our customers operating, the right inventory
needs to be on the shelf.
Complementing our strong inventory position is the technical
expertise available to customers 24/7/365. Our sales representatives
are the front line, interacting with our customers on the plant floor,
often daily. Product specialists are ready with an even deeper
level of technical expertise with electrical and automation; fluid
power; hose, rubber and gaskets; linear; process pumps; and
industrial and safety products. Combined, these teams can help with
product selection and sourcing, application and troubleshooting,
substitution, interchange, system design, engineering, and even
training.
NOV/DEC 2022
Joe Limbaugh,
Motion
Keeping customers in uptime is something that has not changed at Motion. (Motion, 1948)
Going back to the photo, I must confess that one thing has
changed. Due to plant safety and modern clothing sensibilities,
it is unlikely that our sales representatives would be dressed so
formally. But as Motion's product offerings and services have
increased through the decades, our interactions have deepened
as we work to earn our customers'-our partners'-business and
trust.
Partners, the best part of all.
Joe Limbaugh is Executive Vice President
- Supply Chain / Operations Support /
Marketing / Enterprise Excellence at
Motion in Birmingham, Alabama.
Serving the Company since 1983, he
is currently responsible for product
procurement and inventory, distribution
and fulfillment centers, branch operations
support, headquarters campus operations,
marketing, productivity improvement, conveyance
and repairs/services, and company-wide lease management.
For more information, visit Motion.com/efficientplant or our Onsite
Solutions page (motionind.biz/3wPVj1Y).
EFFICIENTPLANTMAG.COM | 7
http://www.Motion.com/efficientplant http://www.motionind.biz/3wPVj1Y http://www.EFFICIENTPLANTMAG.COM
Efficient Plant Nov./Dec. 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Efficient Plant Nov./Dec. 2022
