Fabtek Case Solution
Fabtek Case Solution
Context
Fabtek fabrication is the second largest industrial fabricator of
titanium in USA.
Value proposition - high quality, high price 5 major competitors 80% of company revenue concentrated with 20% customers. Policy of capping maximum revenue share of customer to 20% and market to 30%. Welding capability is the best.
Issues
Capacity crunch on account of backlog.
Alternative 1 - Refco
Pros Fabtek has experience with similar kind of product. In line with companys high quality image. Good payment terms - On time payment of bills Order size: $6million Reliable cost estimates - progress payments for material and labor
Cons Refco unsure of Fabtek delivery schedule - labor already running backlogs Risk of depending too much on Refco for sales Rumors of Refco shifting to in-house fabrication.
Alternative 2 - Pierce-Pike
Pros Potential for development - Strong company in rapidly growing market Technically challenging job. Vital and Lightfoot find it important to develop this capability. Vitali has been pursuing Pierce-Pike for business for four years
Cons No experience in this product. Progress payment only on raw material Failure can risk in losing credibility and customer forever.
Cons No progress payments Penalty of 0.1% of the contract price for each working day that the complete order was late. No incentive for early delivery
Altenative 4 - Kathco
Pros Good relationship with Fabtek Simple design
Cons One-shot deal as Kathos new plant to be up soon. No new capabilities being developed
Recommendations
Accept Worldwide Paper as
It will give opportunity to work on standardized product and develop sales force. Pressure of penalty will streamline existing delays.
senior management discussions on rumors of setting up own facility and possibility of moving
out orders from Fabtek.
Get operations and marketing team to coordinate better on capacity planning through regular
meetings and mandating marketing team to get complete capacity map before making order commitments.
THANK YOU