Problem solving case03

Machine parts that cannot be repaired in Japan are sent to Thai partners for repair and re-importation

Our company has a global network that allows us to collaborate with excellent companies overseas.
We want to find not only cost benefits but also excellent original technology and build a bridge with Japanese companies.

PROPOSER

Overseas Sales Department

Our main business is exporting the Japanese-made machinery and equipment we handle to Japanese companies and local companies overseas. We have established a local subsidiary, HRD (Thailand), in Thailand, and also conduct sales activities mainly in Asia, including Taiwan, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, and India.
In the future, we would like to expand our import business by introducing excellent products from overseas companies to Japan.

BEGINNING

The blades installed in large crushers gradually wear down over time.
Therefore, the cutting edge must be reconditioned every few years using special polishing and grinding equipment. However, the company that the customer had been using stopped this business, so they came to us for advice.

No one can do it, no one can do it, but we have to do something.

The blades installed in this crusher are made of 30 ultra-hard metal plates of different lengths mounted on a 1500mm long base.
In order to perform maintenance work such as polishing, grinding, and overlaying each cutting edge at a consistent angle, special machines and materials as well as sophisticated technology are required, so only a few companies in Japan can handle this task.

Costs are high due to special processing.
However, as this maintenance is still necessary once every few years, the customer had previously asked a specific company to carry out the work, but when that company went out of business, they were unable to ask anyone else to do the work, and were in a lot of trouble.

NETWORK

Even if there isn't a company in Japan that can do it,
you're sure to find one overseas.

Our staff, who propose equipment for resource processing facilities, received a consultation from a customer and searched all over Japan, but were unable to find a company that could handle the request and were about to give up. Then, using our global network, we received information from HRD (Thailand) that there was a company that could handle the request in Thailand.

We are proactive in collaborating with companies that have unique technologies and products, but when doing new business with overseas companies, we must carefully consider credit management and corporate investigations, etc., even more than with domestic companies. In this case, HRD (Thailand) was able to conduct a credit investigation of the registration details, business performance, etc., which allowed the transaction to be concluded smoothly.

SOLUTION

Cost performance that can absorb huge transportation costs

Normally, no matter what transportation method is used, the round-trip transportation costs of sending a product from Japan and re-importing it would be enormous. If a domestic company procures the necessary materials from a domestic company, or if an overseas company procures the necessary materials from an overseas company, transportation costs can be minimized.

Since this was a maintenance project that was conducted once every few years and the frequency of service was low, a certain amount of shipping costs had been budgeted, but the cost of shipping to and from overseas had not been taken into account. Therefore, although they finally found a company that could perform maintenance, they were worried that the cost would not match and the deal would not go through. However, by managing everything from ordering to transportation, packaging, and customs clearance on a one-stop basis, we were able to reduce the middleman's margin and the cost came in well within the client's expected budget. After that, the product was safely returned to Japan after maintenance, and is still operating normally.

I want to create a system that can provide a wide range of products from Japan that are not available overseas, and products from overseas that are not available in Japan.

Not only in this case, but going forward, we aim to be a company that can propose solutions to problems on a global scale, and we would like to continue to build a system for this, step by step.