You’re not a distributor, I’m not a product manufacturer

Posted on June 18, 2009 by Tom

Contract manufacturing is a tricky business sometimes. I’m given the specs of the product/invention/item, and we go to work to make it. I can make a lot of things for a lot of different industries. But we’re not  product application experts. I can’t replicate the environment where your product is used and don’t conduct market research before it leaves the door.

So I always have a conversation with my customer before they place an order that goes something like, “Remember, you’re not a distributor, and I’m not a product manufacturer”. Meaning…I don’t make products, I provide a service.  I can make a product exactly the way it is spec’d, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to work/fit your application. Never take receipt of your order and ship it out without checking it first. Maybe the specs you supplied were wrong? Maybe there are small tolerances in some of the dimenions. Maybe there were slight differences in the raw materials that were not perceptible to the sewer.

Sewing is not and will never be a science of perfection, but always an art. Ever look at a roll of fabric, you’ll certainly find imperfections. Order a roll of 1″ web strap sometime and grab a ruler. From end end to end, you’ll likely find width measurements anywhere between 7/8″ to 1-1/8″. It’s not perfect and issues can and do arise in a world where you rely on visual inspection. It’s the nature of human error. 2% rejection rate is not uncommon in the textile world. We’re proud of our craftsmanship, but my customers always know to check and test their product before it is sold. My production staff  completes in the neighborhood of 75-100 custom jobs every month. We’ll never be the experts. Our knowledge is wide, but not deep.

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Hubzone Certification scrutinized

Posted on June 5, 2009 by Tom

The federal Hubzone program was established for federal contractors located in econmically challenged areas. It is well intentioned. However, for many years, the system has been abused. The SBA simply did not have a process in place to audit whether or not the firms who applied for certification actually operated at the addresses they claimed to. Fortunately, someone must have taken notice at the General Accounting office (GAO). This past March, the GAO published a report exhibiting several cases of fraud and providing a handful of excellent recommendations. For those of us who follow the rules in federal contracting, this is a big breath of fresh air.

First, they are going to implement a series of spot checks. In fact, I personally received an unannounced visit from a rep in the local Chicago SBA office last month.

But there’s another important recommendation that also caught my attention. They are suggesting that the SBA audit awards to Hubzone firms to ensure that 50% of the personnel cost expended on contracts come from that company’s own payroll. This hopefully will eliminate any occurrrence of a company receiving a Hubzone set-aside award only to outsource the entire thing to another company. Unfortunately, this is a common occurrence as well.

For too long, the government procurement offices have had a policy of just collecting notarized statements with flase claims of compliance. This is a great step forward towards achieving what the original implementers hoped for. I got my fingers crossed that system integrity and transperency is back in place.

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Kevlar webbing

Posted on May 28, 2009 by Tom

We had the opportunity to work with this type of web for the first time. This stuff is very tough. 12 seconds on a hot knife at 800 degrees and it would not cut. Ended up using a table saw to get it done. In general, we have very tough machines. But this stuff does a doozy on your sewing machine parts, especially knives.

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Email from Afghanistan

Posted on May 21, 2009 by Tom

I recently received this email from a soldier in Afghanistan. He reached out to us looking for a custom cover for his vehicle in Afghanistan. We are fortunate enough to have the opportunity to help out soldiers from time to time. After he received them, he sent the following email. It’s awesome to be able to tie our passion for sewing to something as important as supporting our troops. 

Please tell all of the employees (or those that you can) that we are so very thankful for your support.  It means the world to us to know that the people at home believe in us and our mission.  Trust me when I say that we are helping these people one day at a time and that the tools that you give us are being put to good use.  Its fantastic knowing that GREAT American products are being used abroad by GREAT American people. Sleep easy, we’re on watch. 

V/R,

LT. Williams

 

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Parade Magazine asks Is Anything Made in America?

Posted on May 14, 2009 by Tom

Parade recently published a a short article on what products are still Made in the USA. Unfortunatelty, sewn products did not make the list. I’m working on changing that.

Here’s a link: http://www.parade.com/news/intelligence-report/archive/whats-made-in-the-usa.html

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Blackwater Era ends in Iraq

Posted on May 7, 2009 by Tom

Excuse me while I digress for a moment…

The State Department’s contract with Blackwater for security services in Iraq ends today. This much maligned company undeservedly got bashed by the press and members of Congress. Let the record show that not a single person under the guard of Blackwater was killed or even seriously injured during their service in Iraq. That is equally indisputable and unfathomable fact. For over 5 years of service, not a single casualty. In an environment where 1000’s were killed and each of those they protected carried a target on their head, that is unbelieveable. But the Iraq government and the uninformed who call them “mercenaries” have finally gotten their wish. As they say, be careful what you ask for.

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Is Made in USA molle gear really better?

Posted on May 6, 2009 by Tom

It’s a reasonable question in these times when so much of the textiles world is focused in the Far East. I spent much of my time at this year’s Shot Show in Orlando confirming my convictions. This is how I make my living after all. So I set out to talk to my Made in USA vendors of nylon, velcro, snaps, buckles, zippers, and others.

I made my rounds and clearly re-affirmed my belief that when it comes to durability, abrasion resitance, breakage, and IR reduction, you can’t beat Made in the USA mil spec product. The reality is that when you buy or look at something made in Vietnam, China, or elsewhere, they look good to the eye. But does in hold up in the theatre? Most of it wouldn’t hold up through two weeks of training. Going to play paintabll this weekend? Knock yourself out champ.

Our men and women in the battlefield know that you wouldn’t put your life on the line with this stuff. So many of our military are engaged in training the forces of other countries around the world. Ask them if they would trade gear with their co-horts. Only if it was their last day on tour and it was an act of sympathy.

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Battle Rattle

Posted on April 29, 2009 by Tom

I have a great book to recommend to those interested in miltary tactical gear: Battle Rattle by Hans Halberstadt. The book, available at Amazon.com, is an in-depth look on all of the gear that a soldier carries. It’s well laid out going through the first, second, and third lines of gear. In addition, it has a glossary of terms which would help anyone who understands the military’s affinity for acronyms. Don’t skip over the Foreward, written by Soldiersystems.net ‘s very own Eric Graves. Eric has the background, expertise, and the passion for all things gear-wise. He provides an interesting commentary on the evolution to the current Molle/PALS system as well as the Berry Amendment. Good stuff for sure.

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Contract Award Delays

Posted on April 17, 2009 by Tom

If only I could be a fly on the wall at the DSCP, Natick, and other hubs of Department of Defense procurement. For reasons that are unclear to me and plenty of others in the industry, there have been several delays in awards of contracts. I know of several companies that have had an excruciating wait to hear on these contracts.

I don’t expect that the contracting officers care, but there is a lot of cost and pain for those companies in wait. How do I hold capacity in my plant for an indefinite time? While other work slows down, can I afford to keep my staff at high levels waiting for a contract? Can I afford to let them go and not have them when I do get the award? How will I deal with an expedited delivery that will inevitably be demanded because the government has waited so long? These are the questions that business owners and managers struggle with. With the slow down in the consumer and commercial markets, now would be a great time for a steady stream of government work in our factories. But many people are waiting. You have to wonder if some of them will be able to hang on long enough?

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A New Era of Tactical Gear Sewing

Posted on April 1, 2009 by Tom

The tetonic plates of the Midwest shifted yesterday. No there wasn’t an earthquake. Rather, there was a very big announcement in the tactical nylon gear industry. ATK has announced the purchase of Eagle Industries. Eagle has been a solid manufacturer of soft goods to the government as well as an OEM supplier for others in the industry. There will be a lot of eyes focused on how this change in ownership will effect their position in the market. Will it be business as usual or soemthing entirely different. I, for one, will be watching.

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