Troy Products’ Commitment to Customers During the Global Supply Chain Shortage
Although the U.S. has turned a corner in the COVID-19 pandemic and cases are significantly less than where they were this time last year, the health crisis has unfortunately left an economic crisis in its wake. One prominent aspect of this nuanced crisis is the global supply chain shortage.
How the supply chain shortage is affecting businesses
If you weren’t familiar with the term “supply chain” before 2021, you inevitably are now. Lack of personnel, combined with increased consumer demand, has led to a shortage of products and logistical complications, affecting consumers more than ever before. From sky-high prices to significant delivery delays, the supply chain shortage is intruding on all industries, and police vehicle equipment is no exception.
How the supply chain shortage is affecting Troy Products
Unfortunately, the delayed lead time and increased prices synonymous with the global supply chain shortage are affecting Troy Products like every other business. With ports backed up, Troy has to purchase sheet metal via air freight, a much more costly transportation method. We also have to purchase higher quantities of parts than needed to receive priority treatment and cut down on long lead times. “Where we used to order 800 of something, now we have to order 10,000 of them just to be put at a priority,” Troy Products General Manager Louis Biegler said, “We also need the higher quantity to float us because we don’t know how long this is going to last.”
“We’re seeing a trickle-down effect from suppliers to businesses like ours, to the community,” Biegler said, “If our supplier is delayed, then we’re delayed; the police officer that’s going to receive this vehicle is pushed back, so this is harming the community.”
This supply chain shortage has hit several essential products the hardest. Police cargo storage and command posts have become challenging to assemble on time because of a supplier delay on draw latches. “Our regular order of T-handle draw latches was not fulfilled in time, so we ended up having to purchase an alternative and have them machined on our dime,” Biegler explained.
“They had to be modified so the customer could not tell the difference,” he continued, “Behind the scenes, there was a lot that went into making sure that command posts could make it to that fire department or police department.”
The global chip shortage has also hit Troy Products hard. The USB port built into Troy’s center consoles requires a chip, which has made them virtually impossible to manufacture in a timely and cost-effective manner. Auto manufacturer Dodge has even stopped servicing their V8 Charger model because of its heavy reliance on electronic components. “Until someone finds a way to start processing those chips in the United States, we’re not going see much reprieve from this,” Biegler said.
The materials shortage stretches as far as police front cage and prisoner divider systems. “The prices have gone up 700 percent, and there’s an incredible lead time because they’re sent over on a boat. Everything from whiteboard materials to polycarbonate to the map drawer on the command posts, those are all affected by this supply chain shortage,” Biegler said, “It’s basically everything.”
Troy’s commitment to customers
At Troy Products, we have committed to doing right by our customers despite these unprecedented logistical issues by minimizing the costs passed on to the consumer and ensuring that lead times aren’t extended.
Biegler confirmed, “We will deliver. My commitment is that we will do everything we can to make sure we fulfill an order within the designated lead time. If it’s a standard item, it’s my guarantee that it will be shipped in 3 weeks. If it’s a custom order, we will do our damndest to make sure it’s received in 5-6 weeks.”
We have stayed true to this promise by restructuring our business and rethinking how they manufacture each product. “We’re implementing techniques for maximum manufacturing efficiency; our whole mantra right now is ‘eliminate waste,’” Biegler explained, “We’re reevaluating how we manufacture, assemble, and ship products. We’re trying to eliminate any and all waste so we can utilize every man-hour that we have to the best of our ability. That’s going to help us keep costs down, so we don’t have to pass on these cost increases to the customer. We need to cut costs without sacrificing quality.”
Troy is always aware of the importance of our work, as our end-user is a public safety officer who needs Troy’s products to protect their community. “We know that our customers are the safety and backbone of our community,” Biegler said, “We’re doing everything we can to ensure that the officers and the first responders have a safe and secure work environment.”
From investing in fully automated equipment to having staff on the phone with international distributors 24/7, Troy Products continues to do everything in its power to absorb the effects of the global supply chain shortage so Troy’s customers don’t have to. “We don’t want any of our distributors to feel the burden of this. We want to support our customers to the greatest of our ability,” Biegler concluded.
If you’d like to find out more about Troy Products or get started with an order for your fleet, you can contact Troy’s customer service team at (800) 700-8769 or fill out an online contact form. Troy can even work with your local public service agency to create a custom product ideally suited for your unique operational needs.
