Engineers, technical procurement teams, manufacturers, and others often have complex procurement processes. These professionals rely on finding suppliers with the correct parts and suitable specifications.
Unfortunately, these wrinkles can make sourcing the right parts challenging. Engineers and other stakeholders don’t always get the right parts or what they ordered, and mismatches are common.
But what if there was some way to simplify the process? That’s where eParts enters the picture. Our solution turns the procurement process into a breeze, helping engineers and their teams source the right parts every time through automation and supplier matching.
What Challenges Do Engineers Face During Procurement?
Engineers face several challenges during the procurement process. Normally, it is long and complex and requires expert knowledge of specific components and the manufacturing operations behind them. Professionals must verify that they can slot into existing production processes and be delivered at the right time.
Furthermore, bill of materials (BOM) issues can compound problems. Engineers may have to work through complex paperwork or deal with multiple suppliers, often in different countries, linking them to their databases and relying on multiple systems. Ensuring that all these elements work together as a seamless whole can be tiring and, sometimes, downright impossible.
The main challenges are:
- A mismatch between the parts and specifications. Different suppliers may inadvertently apply different standards, making engineering parts sourcing even more challenging.
- A difficult sourcing process. Engineers may not have automated component matching tools that enable them to quickly identify suitable SKUs.
- Data problems. Complex BOMs lead to a higher likelihood of human error and mistakes in critical paperwork and documentation, digital or otherwise.
How eParts Makes BOM Uploads and Supplier Matching Easier
These problems are serious challenges for many supply chain companies and operators, leading to higher costs and sometimes jeopardizing production schedules.
Fortunately, though, eParts can help. Our tool simplifies the procurement process and provides accurate BOM automation. Ultimately, we make the entire process more straightforward and reliable, reducing the time it takes to get the right parts.
Automated BOM Documentation
For example, eParts facilitates BOM automation, making the process of creating and managing bills of materials more straightforward. Instead of relying on manual input into procurement systems, it removes human error through its BOM upload feature. The software lets engineers send their BOM in digital format to the system, and it will copy and enter the information into the system with minimal oversight. As such, our approach reduces mistakes and makes human errors less likely, cutting down on complications later on.
Supplier Diversity
eParts also works with a large number of suppliers, allowing us to provide engineers and manufacturers with more options. Building a large network allows us to source more specifications relevant to your business.
Furthermore, we work closely with our network of suppliers to provide you with regular updates. These tell you if parts are in stock, whether shortages are likely, and what disruptions might be coming down the pike.
Component Matching
This groundwork means we can provide some of the industry’s most advanced and sophisticated component matching. Our system cross-references parts with suppliers and tells you what’s in stock and whether it works with your application. New parts are added all the time, while out-of-date or unstocked parts disappear.
Sometimes, it isn’t possible to find an exact match, but with eParts component matching, you can get close. Also, you can determine whether such parts are available or if you need to order them separately. It’s entirely up to you.
Real-Time Updates
Another reason to use our procurement tools for engineers is our real-time updates. These let you track the position of every SKU in the system and see where it’s headed. It shows you if delays or shortages are likely and allows you to take proactive steps to correct them.
What’s nice about this is that you have full visibility. You can see where items are and what you need to do next. eParts remove a lot of the guesswork from the process.
Quality Assurance
Finally, eParts’ procurement checks ensure quality by linking BOM uploads to supplier inventory and reconciling the accounts. As such, engineers don’t need to waste time vetting suppliers to check whether they are following the rules. The solution does that for you.
Wrapping Up
Ultimately, eParts offers numerous benefits for engineers and procurement teams. The software reduces costs, eliminates time-consuming administration, and enables better supply chain oversight, a key advantage in today’s market.