‘Materials as a Service’ brings stability to a volatile materials market

A leading materials supplier and supply chain solutions provider – thyssenkrupp Materials UK, advises that raw material prices and lead-times are changing frequently due to macroeconomic developments and geopolitical disruptions.

CEO Billy Kingsbury explains: “We are used to coping with a volatile materials market, however the current situation is pretty much unprecedented which poses challenges regarding material supply and can lead to product shortages and disruptive last-minute changes to schedules.

An effective way manufacturers can deal with these challenges is to have a robust and flexible supply chain. We, as a global organisation, are fully integrated to receive materials market information quickly due to our presence in North America, Europe and Asia. This allows us to act fast and provide much-needed flexibility to our customers by being ahead of the game.”

The well-established supplier relationships and the years of industry experience have allowed thyssenkrupp Materials UK to integrate a new strategy into its offering called ‘Materials as a Service’. This concept originates from the holding company – thyssenkrupp Materials Services – and allows manufacturers to focus on their core business and utilise the expertise of thyssenkrupp Materials UK in managing their material supply, delivering added value services in preparation of the finished product and overseeing subcontractors and logistics.

The Materials as a Service strategy is a potential safety net for manufacturers in dealing with sourcing issues.

Mr Kingsbury comments: “We treat our customers as partners and aim to support not only their material procurement but also their operations and entire supply chains. With a vast range of in-house capabilities and an expert team on hand, we can mitigate risk for our customers and ensure that their products are being manufactured in an efficient and sustainable way.

“We can support them with as little or as much as they need – from warehouse management and tailored material deliveries to just-in-time delivery of machined or fabricated parts and outsourcing the entire processing stages of production.”

With production targets and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) set and timely fulfilment still expected by end customers, there is no room for disruptions. However, the current environment creates challenges for material producers, stockholders and manufacturers to meet the rising demands.

“Finding the right business partner to support and build a strong relationship with seems to be invaluable in this ‘new normal’, “ Mr Kingsbury concludes. The solution ahead is all about collaboration.”

thyssenkrupp Materials UK offers a vast range of products and a wealth of experience in sourcing and supplying products such as stainless steel, aluminium and mild steel. The company also provides a range of services, whether that’s fully welded and fabricated finished parts or bespoke flat products cut to exact sizes. To help reduce inventory and costs, the company specialises in supply chain management and logistics solutions.    

thyssenkrupp Materials UK
www.thyssenkrupp-materials.co.uk