Gutor’s Post

Purchasing in ETO Businesses! 🌟 Let’s Talk ETO Purchasing: Challenges & Smart Ideas for High-Mix, Low-Volume Workflows If you’ve worked in an Engineer-to-Order (ETO) business, you know the drill: every order is unique, and managing purchasing is a juggling act. High-mix, low-volume (HMLV) environments mean we’re often fighting tight timelines, unexpected changes, and cost pressures. Here are 3 relatable challenges (and some ideas to make life easier): 1️⃣ Suppliers: Our Lifelines Finding suppliers who “get” ETO is like finding a needle in a haystack. Big volumes get all the love, but we need reliability and flexibility. Pro tip: Build relationships like partnerships. When your supplier wins, you win. A little co-development can go a long way! 2️⃣ Forecasting (AKA Predicting the Unpredictable) Forecasting in HMLV is tough with all the variability. The trick? Frequent communication between engineering, sales, and purchasing teams to anticipate shifts early. Use historical order data to identify trends and patterns, even if they’re subtle. Build a buffer strategy for long-lead items while working closely with suppliers to secure critical materials on short notice. It’s not about perfection—it’s about staying adaptable and reducing surprises. 3️⃣ Customization vs. Cost ETO is all about unique solutions, but customization often equals $$$. Solution? Work with suppliers to optimize designs early. Collaborative problem-solving saves time, costs, and headaches down the line. ✨ Your Take: How do you handle these challenges? Got tips, tools, or experiences to share? Drop your ideas below—we’re all learning together in this space! #ETO #PurchasingChallenges #HMLV #SupplyChain #GutorExperts #Gutor