Elevator manufacturers excel at unifying design and engineering, especially in their metal and electrical components. When it comes to the interior, design is critical, but manufacturing the hanging panels typically involves some amount of woodworking and is outside their area of expertise. Because of this, three of the four largest elevator manufacturers in North America outsource their elevator panels to a woodworking expert. Whether it’s a new cab or a modernization project, there are a number of benefits to partnering with a manufacturer who’s focused on the production of elevator panels. Here are the top three reasons.
1. Increase Efficiency A sudden increase in orders is a great problem to have, but it’s still a problem that has to be managed. How do you scale up quickly to meet demand? One option is adding head count and machines, but that takes time. Order volume could normalize before you’re able to respond. On the flip side, what if you scale up and things slow down? Then you have the opposite problem. Partnering with a manufacturer allows you to scale up and down to meet demand in real-time. This solutions provides capacity when you need it, and the ability to better manage the ebbs and flows.
2. Disruptive Innovation Architects and designers stay one step ahead of the curve. Keeping up with the latest materials and manufacturing processes to meet their needs can be a challenge. Working with a partner who’s already made the investments in machinery required to stay current means you don’t have to. Offering your clients innovations like ultralight substrates, seamless edges and the latest surface materials will help keep you competitive.
3. Cost Savings Machines, labor, facilities and support teams are expensive. Even so, if elevator panels where your only product, you’d be able to produce panels more cost effectively yourself verses outsourcing. But when you add up all the expenses, labor and overhead, three out of four of the largest OEMs in North America have found outsourcing to be a more cost effective strategy. This approach also allows you to focus on what you’re best at.
If your company could benefit from building a regional, national or global strategy for elevator panel manufacturing, contact us today to discuss the process and options.
