How Edmonton Valve Has Brought Value and Savings to Customers Since 2000

Our 60-member + team has at least 40 ways it can add extra value for customers while doing business together. VIP Reports help customers see the total value their organization is getting from us.

Between business support services, field advisory services, design and assembly services, and training options, there are more than 40 ways Edmonton Valve and Fitting brings customers value. At every touch point, we strive to deliver value beyond the expected -- and to track it as we go.

Throughout the year, as we interact with customers, we pay attention to ways our customers are saving time or money. That way any customer can request a VIP Report that helps quantify the benefits of the relationship.

In the case of one customer last year, cumulative savings were 48% of their total spend. The savings accrued as we took care of logistical issues; provided technical support; advised on best-value approaches to problems; uncovered ways to spend less on energy, maintenance, and components; and more.

“Usually, the more integrated our organizations are, the more ways we can add value,” explains Edmonton Valve and Fitting Business Process Manager, Brad Fedor (photo). Customers have diverse needs, and our whole team works as one to meet them.

“We might do some things for the engineering group. Something else for the warehouse logistics team on site. And then something else for the management team or an assembly group at a facility. A VIP Report is a way to summarize in one document what we are doing for the whole organization as well as for each particular group.”

Customers themselves help assign value to activities

VIP stands for Value Impact Partnership, and Edmonton Valve takes care to judge impact from the customer perspective. 

“The numbers in these reports are based on more than our internal tracking of activities,” says Brad. “We ask customers what value they assign to various ways we support them. We listen very closely to understand what is most helpful, what more we might be able to do, and the like. We factor their priorities in as we help them quantify different aspects of the relationship.”

We ran hundreds of VIP reports last year, for customers large and small — and across all different industries. While savings vary from company to company, in 2020 they were typically more than 25% of what the customer spent with us.

Let's look at some of the services we provide and how customers are finding ways to save: 

Mobile warehouse and replenishment 

Going back and forth to will-call or waiting for deliveries can cost time and money. By making complimentary stops at customer locations with our mobile warehouse, Edmonton Valve & Fitting makes sure you get the right parts when you need them.

“We may stop by once a month to check what you need for inventory, fill an order, deliver the products, and put the inventory away on their designated shelves. This frees your warehouse staff to do other work, and eliminates freight charges,” explains Brad.

Custom solutions

If you are spending a lot of time and money assembling Swagelok parts into frequently used sub-assemblies, you can save time and money by turning the job over to our Custom Solutions Department. We have trained and certified personnel who can create assemblies specifically for your unique requirements. And it’s not uncommon for us to advise for free on whether and how custom fabrication might be of help.

Consignment inventory

Inventory can cost 15 percent to 35 percent of the average annual value of items in stock. That's a lot to pay up front. These costs include shrinkage, obsolescence, storage and the cost of money. Though consignment inventory, on the other hand, you pay as you go. The inventory stays on your premises, ready to use, but not on your books until you need it. We evaluate your current usage, set minimum and maximum inventory levels, and establish ordering procedures. This is the kind of thing we can handle for customers at no charge.

Fitting reclamation

One of the many advantages of the Swagelok two-ferrule fitting design is the ability to re-use the body without leaks. Most of the cost of replacement is in the fitting, not the ferrule. We'll show you where it makes sense in your system to re-use and refurbish. That's recycling at its best, and Swagelok has offered this fitting design for 65 years.

Product consulting

Choosing the right or wrong fluid system product can make the difference between a reliable and unreliable system. To avoid unplanned downtime and lost revenue, work with us to find the right fit for your needs based on pressure, temperature, CV, material compatibility, different types of valves or actuation, assembly, and many other factors. We can also provide expert consultation on corrosion resistance, leak mitigation, safety factors, and process and system accuracy and design.

Cutting down on leaks, waste, and inefficient design

Nothing says “you come first” as much as showing you how to spend less on components, consume less energy, and do less maintenance. And it’s not uncommon for that to be one outcome of our field advisory services.

Take design optimization, for example -- which is perfectly suited to collaborating virtually. If you share a plan, design, or list of materials with our local Field Service Technologist, Tom Webster, he may be able to streamline it so you achieve the same or better results with a smaller upfront investment and lower cost of ownership over the long term. 

Fluid System Evaluation & Advisory Services and Sampling System Evaluation and Advisory Services are designed to find these kinds of savings. We take pride in looking at customers' systems as a whole, then showing precisely how to cut consumption, minimize time and money going to maintenance and repairs, make components last longer (eg extend hose life), eliminate hazards, and decrease the stock you need to keep on hand.

Clear protocols and mindfulness in every interaction

When it comes to reviewing VIP Reports with customers, we are using video meetings or phone calls instead of face to face meetings. In fact we have adapted all of our operations and services, including vendor managed inventory, to maximize safety.

“We are an essential service supplier because of what we do onsite, so for the most part vendor managed inventory has continued” despite Covid, Brad says. 

The key is having a minimal footprint. There are strict protocols agreed on before Edmonton Valve sets foot on site — including how to handle at a safe distance any discussion that might be needed.

Browse services available from Edmonton Valve

"My observation is that customers we are close to — meaning our teams are intertwined — tend to operate more efficiently," explains Brad. "If we are able to learn about your pressures, priorities, and resources, you can bet we'll identify ways to add value. And you can measure the difference with an end-of-year VIP Report, which you are always welcome to proudly circulate at your organization."