What are OEM parts? Parts might look alike but have modifications which make them unique for a specific application. We at LANGGUTH have solenoid valves and electrical parts in our machines which are modified for our needs and our specific application.
Many times I visited customers who complained that the parts do not last long enough. When I inspected them, I found that they were aftermarket parts and not made for this application. Someone was ordering them because they thought “I can get this cheaper and save money for the company.”Good intention but bad results.
The loss in production time, the frequency to replace this “cheaper” part make this a very expensive venture. The person ordering the aftermarket part (Purchasing department) does not even get to know the problems. They often find out by accident that they have to buy this replacement part more frequently than the OEM part. In the day to day hassle this is frequently overlooked for a long period of time. The operation cost of the machine is going up, the down time is going up and the waste coming out of the machine increases. Nobody wins and the cheaper part is much more expensive at the end of the day. Operating personnel is the first to notice the changes but they may also be the last someone in management is listening to. This is the main reason problems drag on for a long time and nobody does anything about this.
Don’t get me wrong here: I do not mind if a ball bearing or a seal is replaced with a locally bought part as long as it is the same quality and meets the same specifications. It is just not a practical choice to replace critical functioning parts with aftermarket parts and then blame the manufacturer for a poorly performing machine.
Regular service and proper parts will keep peak performance up.
Dieter Vogelsang
Sales & Engineering Director
LANGGUTH AMERICA Ltd.
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