Seek Suppliers That Help You Prepare for Recovery

Slower times can be the ideal time to get ready for future growth

Whether its a single time visit or contracted scheduled visits, when it comes to auditing or surveying your system, work with our team to meet your needs. We also offer specialized tube fitting and bending courses once a month, among other training opportunities for your company.

After nearly two years of slumping oil prices, a lot of companies are looking at any possible way to tighten their belts. That only makes sense. It's important, though, to cut costs carefully.

Writing recently for JWN Energy, supply chain specialist Robert Porter Lynch warned against broad cutbacks.

"You may end up slicing and dicing your very best supplier who's loyal, has trained people, has systems in place, does the job meticulously, never has a safety violation, and produces the highest amount of productivity per labour hour that you pay them," said Lynch, CEO of Warren Co. It's smarter to instead focus on protecting value.

Adding value

For example, many customers have had to make do with a smaller workforce. With fewer people to handle the work, it's important that they know how to do more than one job. We offer specialized hands-on training in tube fitting and installation. We also have Swagelok University with more than 130 interactive industrial training courses you can take right at your desk. They come with audio and video, covering scientific fundamentals, plant operations, safety and more.At Edmonton Valve & Fitting, we take that idea a step further. We can help our customers make use of the slow times to make themselves stronger for the inevitable economic recovery.

Then there's equipment. It's hard to justify buying new tools on a tight budget, especially if they won't be used frequently. A lower-cost alternative is to rent the tools you need, only when you need them. We have them, the most popular being our bench-top tube bender. Other tools in our rental inventory include orbital welders, hydraulic swagers, and tube straighteners. We can also throw in some training so you can use the equipment safely and with confidence.

Inventory can tie up a lot of money, both for the parts themselves and for staff to manage that part of the business. Edmonton Valve & Fitting can help with both elements. Use us for inventory management, and we'll visit periodically to check what you have in stock, draw up an order for what you need, and have the products delivered. We also can set you up for consignment inventory, where 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.

No assembly required

A lean staff usually means there's no extra capacity when you need to create sub-assemblies for fluid systems. Our Custom Solutions department can serve as your extra hands. We have the space, the special tools and the expertise to handle everything from simple welds to complex manifolds, and custome hose assemblies. We also test everything before we send it to you.

From leaks to solutions

Even compressed air leaks can cost money. The air may be free, but the compression isn't. We've found that, on average, uninspected systems are losing 25 percent to 30 percent of their compressed air through leaks. When was the last time you got your system inspected?Steam systems will waste money if they aren't run efficiently. But how do you know what shape yours is in? By having us come out and take a look at it. We can spot the leaks, check steam traps, point out problems and suggest solutions.

Get ready, get set

We've been through enough business cycles to notice that companies bounce back faster when they think about the long term. They may cut back during the lean times, but they keep core elements as strong as possible. They try to hold on to highly skilled workers. They strive for maximum efficiency. They don't sacrifice quality, because they know in the long run it won't save them anything.

We want your business to thrive, and aim to be a valued-partner in sustaining your business during these economic times. Let us help you get there - talk with to one of our associates today.