How This Manufacturer Improved Client Experience, Developed Product Faster, and Saved Over $1M
With the introduction of its construction equipment in the 1950s, it created an entire industry. Over the years, the brand became synonymous with performance and dependability. Today, its loaders, excavators, tractors, mowers, and other equipment are used the world over in industries such as construction, agriculture, and landscaping.
Challenge:
First assignment – Bring down the cost and complexity of the sound package used in much of its equipment. The complicated package had a total 28 parts, configured differently for each machine. The package was expensive and inefficient to build.
Second assignment – Think about the sound package holistically; not as a product to sell but as an integral part of redesigning the new generation product line. This meant considering issues like number of parts, ease of installation, global safety and compliance standards, all while achieving best-in-class sound level performance to create competitive advantage.
“The first project with Blachford, it was a definite quality improvement, and it was over a million dollar yearly cost savings for just the purchase parts themselves. We went from 28 (SKU) parts to 14.”
– Design Engineer
Solution:
Blachford mocked up rough concepts on-site and created prototype parts. In the end, a superior product solution was created. A simpler design required half the number of parts (28 to 14), with better acoustic performance and easier installation. This saved the company over a million dollars annually on purchase parts alone.
When the company embarked on a redesign to create its next generation of signature equipment, they called on Blachford to work with them from the start. It was one of the largest projects undertaken in the company’s history – a complete product re-design. And the goal was daunting: Achieve best-in-class sound level performance – so bold they called it a moonshot project.
The design engineer from this company estimates bringing Blachford in early in the design process saved the company six to twelve months of development by coming on-site with instrumentation, materials and a test engineer to perform extensive testing.
“Then, bringing them in at the beginning with our new product design, it probably saved 6-12 months of development. We didn’t just want the spec sheet value. We wanted customers to get in the machine and experience the difference.”
– Design Engineer
Expected Annualized Benefits:
The team met or exceeded every goal. Across the line, sound levels are an enviable 76 to 84 decibels. This is a substantial sales advantage, and one the customer can hear for themselves when talking to a salesperson with the machine running. The package simplifications were so successful there are now only 3 SKUs supporting the acoustic accompaniments that are part of every vehicle.
- Initial model re-set, simplified the supply chain from 28 SKUs to 14 saving over $1M annually in parts cost alone
- In development of next-generation product line:
- Achieved best-in-class sound levels on entire equipment line for a considerable sales advantage
- Simplified assembly, reduced mistakes, and decreased inventory
- Reduced cost of one part 15-25%
- Cut 6-12 months off development schedule
Need a Custom Solution? We Can Help.
Case Study Snapshot:
Customer Industry:
Heavy Equipment Manufacturing
Annual Revenue:
2 Billion
Total Employees:
3,000
Business Issues:
- Achieve best-in-class sound levels in new generation of equipment
- Meet customer expectations for comfort (which includes quietness of cab)
- Reduce complexity of and number of parts in sound package
- Lower cost of sound package and improve manufacturability
Key Results:
- Saved Over $1M in Annual Product Spend
- Simplified Supply Chain by 89%
- Up to -5dB in Sound Reduction
Customers Who Trust Blachford Acoustics Group
“Blachford eliminated SKUs. Across product families, the reduction of one SKU is a $10k savings. Blachford eliminated 14 SKUs.”
– Noise Control Research Engineer – Construction Equipment Manufacturer
“The first project with Blachford, it was a definite quality improvement, and it was over a million dollar yearly cost savings for just the purchase parts themselves. We went from 28 (SKU) parts to 14.”
– Design Engineer – Heavy Equipment Manufacturer
“Noise is important to brand image. It is one of the top factors along with driveability and reliability. Acoustics – it’s a 4 out of 5, it might even be a 5 in importance projecting the image, the brand, and the quality that we want projected to the market.”
– Design Engineer – Truck Manufacturer
“Our ten-fold growth prior to our acquisition was expedited by our working relationship with Blachford.”
– Design Engineer
“For our shareholders, we have to produce a product at the lowest cost, at the right level of quality and sell it at the highest price we can. We look for suppliers who can help us do that. Blachford helps us do that.”
– Global Procurement Manager – Construction Equipment Manufacturer
“When a company does a spec, boundary conditions like humidity that day, temperature, that all matters. ASPM national or international spec. We try to verify where we can, but we don’t even have the equipment they have. We trust their specifications. Blachford brings innovative ideas, processes, materials, and offerings we value.”
– Design Engineer – Truck Manufacturer
“Then, bringing them in at the beginning with our new product design, it probably saved 6-12 months of development. We didn’t just wa nt the spec sheet value. We wanted customers to get in the machine and experience the difference.”
– Design Engineer – Heavy Equipment Manufacturer
“If we have an acoustics issue, we will reach out to Blachford since they are the experts. It saves us money because we do not have to keep an acoustic expert on site with an annual salary, with benefits, of $125K.”
– Design Engineer – Truck Manufacturer
“As a mechanical engineer, we make stuff that is practical and affordable and Blachford’s materials routinely help me reach these goals.”
– Design Engineer
“We [purchasing department] reported savings of $100k annually from moving to the die-cut solution using Blachford.”
– Design Engineer – Truck Manufacturer
Customers Who Trust Blachford Acoustics Group
“Blachford eliminated SKUs. Across product families, the reduction of one SKU is a $10k savings. Blachford eliminated 14 SKUs.”
– Noise Control Research Engineer – Construction Equipment Manufacturer
“The first project with Blachford, it was a definite quality improvement, and it was over a million dollar yearly cost savings for just the purchase parts themselves. We went from 28 (SKU) parts to 14.”
– Design Engineer – Heavy Equipment Manufacturer
“Noise is important to brand image. It is one of the top factors along with driveability and reliability. Acoustics – it’s a 4 out of 5, it might even be a 5 in importance projecting the image, the brand, and the quality that we want projected to the market.”
– Design Engineer – Truck Manufacturer
“Our ten-fold growth prior to our acquisition was expedited by our working relationship with Blachford.”
– Design Engineer
“For our shareholders, we have to produce a product at the lowest cost, at the right level of quality and sell it at the highest price we can. We look for suppliers who can help us do that. Blachford helps us do that.”
– Global Procurement Manager – Construction Equipment Manufacturer
“When a company does a spec, boundary conditions like humidity that day, temperature, that all matters. ASPM national or international spec. We try to verify where we can, but we don’t even have the equipment they have. We trust their specifications. Blachford brings innovative ideas, processes, materials, and offerings we value.”
– Design Engineer – Truck Manufacturer
“Then, bringing them in at the beginning with our new product design, it probably saved 6-12 months of development. We didn’t just wa nt the spec sheet value. We wanted customers to get in the machine and experience the difference.”
– Design Engineer – Heavy Equipment Manufacturer
“If we have an acoustics issue, we will reach out to Blachford since they are the experts. It saves us money because we do not have to keep an acoustic expert on site with an annual salary, with benefits, of $125K.”
– Design Engineer – Truck Manufacturer
“As a mechanical engineer, we make stuff that is practical and affordable and Blachford’s materials routinely help me reach these goals.”
– Design Engineer
“We [purchasing department] reported savings of $100k annually from moving to the die-cut solution using Blachford.”
– Design Engineer – Truck Manufacturer
It’s Easy to Get Started
STEP 1:
COMPLETE OUR GET STARTED FORM
Give us some basic information about your sound, vibration or thermal reduction goals.
STEP 2:
COLLABORATE WITH OUR EXPERTS
Our team of engineers will work with you to uncover all issues and identify possible solutions.
