Selecting products for specification
Selecting products for specification
(OP)
When using suppliers to assist with writing specs, is the reputation, experience of the supplier more important than the actual product?
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Selecting products for specification
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Selecting products for specificationSelecting products for specification(OP)
When using suppliers to assist with writing specs, is the reputation, experience of the supplier more important than the actual product?
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RE: Selecting products for specification
If the supplier may also be a bidder, then objectivity is an issue. Not just the objectivity of the supplier, but yours as well. This leads directly into reputation as you can become known as a company which writes specs that only one supplier can meet.
I personally am not a fan of suppliers being involved at all in the development of specs. I want the specs to be what is best for the project, not what is best for a supplier.
RE: Selecting products for specification
If you are an ISO9000 or other certified company there are documentations that you create to depict the the specifications. ie... (Functional Specification Documentation)-- These are released with the ECN package and are then classified as a controled document.
I do not want a supplier telling me what "I" have to do... I stipulate to them what is needed, and they supply it. If they can't--- there are other suppliers that can. Now granted there are times we as engineers have to do some investigating on our own to make sure we didn't design something that "CAN'T" be manufactured. --- This doesn't happen very often.
Also to complete the answer to your question -- The product to me is the most important aspect. It reflects my work and my capabilities, therefore I want the best possible. I really don't care if the company that is making it for us is just now getting into the business of manufacturing this part or has 100 yrs experience. As long as the part meets all of the criteria reflected on the print/prints, ie (Quality, Lead Times, Capacity etc...) -- Thats for purchasing to hash out.
RE: Selecting products for specification
RE: Selecting products for specification
Servicing the Consultants this way has rewarded my client with a large spec base, but without following up our spec service with an aggressive post-tender review of competitors’ submissions on all lost jobs, the work done will go for zero. This is where the lines get blurred
RE: Selecting products for specification
But having been a spec writer myself, I can say it is always written by the vendor to be as tight as possible with the products they have available so as not to include competitors products.
The big dogs do this on a regular basis. And believe it or not they also give kick backs to the spec writer based on products ordered under this spec. Granted sometimes this is not known so no kick backs can not be paid. But I do know it happens, first hand, with one multi-billion dollar company that we would all know by name.
RE: Selecting products for specification
Are you telling us that you know of illegal activity that you have not reported to the proper legal authorities?
Are you telling us that you are aware of unethical professional activities that you have not reported to the proper licensing authorities?
If the answer is yes, then you too are guilty of the illegal and unethical behaviour and could be taken to task for your failure to report this activity.
Rick Kitson MBA P.Eng
Construction Project Management
From conception to completion
www.kitsonengineering.com
RE: Selecting products for specification
The cases were not reported. One needs to have documented proof of such allegations before putting ones neck on the line. But you would certainly contact this major manufacturer and call them on their unwritten policies wouldn't you?
I wrote specs for products for a company I worked for to be used by a specifying engineer. I did not write specs that a consultant would write for bidders of a particular job/product.
I did not have any physical proof that kick backs were being passed along. Any proof is buried in the mountain of financial statements that accountants/CFO's massage so thoroughly (as can be seen with the many recent corporate scandals).
So no, I did nothing unethical. It was the PE that accepted the kick backs that was unethical. And even more worry-some is the illegal practice that the company was engaged in (paying out kick backs).
RE: Selecting products for specification
RE: Selecting products for specification
Obviously, there are some customers whose sole criteria is cost, particularly for off-the-shelf or stock hardware.
Others would be more interested in your client's responsiveness and ability to adapt or otherwise modify your client's product to meet specific needs.
Therefore, you need to have both; a better than average value product and the ability to respond to unique needs not met by stock hardware.
TTFN
RE: Selecting products for specification
In general engineering areas, opinion of 2 or more vendors can be taken. But more often the dominant vendor draws up a specification which is very tight thus barring competition. This process also makes the product expensive and adds to dependence of one source. I am sure a bright and experienced sourcing engineer can read the mischief and temper the specification.
RE: Selecting products for specification
However, there are a number of items on any given project for which my expertise may not be as extensive. In such cases, I want to hear what the vendors have to say. In particular, I want the to keep me updated on the latest, greatest stuff. Of course the challenge is to not get swept up in their hype.
In the end you have to know at least some of the basics of any critical component and why it is being specified. Ask yourself this question... Why is that particular product specified? If you can't answer that question you are the wrong person to be writting that part of the specification.
Nothing irrates me more that seeing boiler plate specs wherein there are lots of requirements and no one knows why?
Hope this helps.
Steve Braune
Tank Industry Consultants
www.tankindustry.com
RE: Selecting products for specification
For example in Australia storm water pit lids are often refered to as gatic lids (due to Gatic being the main manufacturer for many years). So the speci will often read "heavy duty gatic lid or approved equivalent". Similarly a precast concrete panel may be specified with "Ramset lifting lugs or engineer approved equivalent".
So the person tendering on the project can use an alternative providing he requests approval prior to submitting the tender and he specifies the change in his tender document.
regards
sc
RE: Selecting products for specification
regards
sc
RE: Selecting products for specification
This fortunately is not that difficult so I can push the engineer to reject inferior products...but how far should I push to uphold my spec - I do not want to over do it an put the Consultant in a bad position.
I specify air handling products oriented around specific performance requirements.