July 20th, 2009 by Ron Jr "Reg" Gustafson

Something’s kind of nippin’ at me today, and I wonder if I’m alone in my feelings?  It has to do with the response time I experience in doing business in a B2B context with more than just a few companies.

In addition to my role as project management at Clinkenbeard, I purchase a variety of raw materials consumed by the Clinkenbeard machine. To be honest, I have a difficult time finding companies who have a healthy sense of urgency needed to deliver products and services when I need them. As I speak with many people who call to inquire about the services we offer, I find that I’m not alone in this search for companies who possess this sense of urgency.

Clinkenbeard specializes in expedited delivery. Our clients have THE NEED FOR SPEED. We have developed a reputation for accepting the challenging deadlines posed by this group of clients. Maybe it’s that we are so used to meeting challenging deadlines and working in an environment of rapid response that we expect everyone else do to the same.  Or maybe I’m correct in my being under whelmed by the response rates and senses of urgency I experience in dealing with some companies today?

What has been your experience?

I believe that customers deserve immediate feedback. If I can supply information immediately I do so; if not I reply with a time estimate to supply this information, so that the customer knows that their email or voicemail has been received and the wheels are turning to supply the information they require.

With respect to manufacturing, the goal remains the same. We strive to supply quotations in 24 hours or less in most cases. Our staff has been exposed to a wide range of manufacturing processes, which allows them to identify the absolute fastest process for the part our customers need. Once we identify the Fasterestest process to make customer parts the rest will soon be recent history!