Case Study Link Engine Management

Their Needs

Link originally engaged ASL when their previous manufacturer closed and they were looking for another contract manufacturer.

Link had several operational challenges they needed to consider, including:

• Forecasting complexity - difficulty in accurately forecasting product demand over long lead times e.g., 12 months. Matt describes this as ‘hard’
• Quality assurance - consistent high-quality to avoid costly delays and reworks
• Supply chain resilience – navigating unpredictable supply chain issues and component shortages to ensure continuous production
• Flexibility for varied runs – a partner who could work with them for both high-volume production and smaller, specialised runs

Matt says they were looking for a contract manufacturer who could operate as an integrated partner – with direct communication and engineering feedback, rather than a purely transactional relationship.

What We Did

Matt says ASL fostered a deep, collaborative partnership built on continuous improvement and open communication.

Key actions included:

• Open factory - direct access to the entire team and production floor, enabling Link's engineers to collaborate directly with ASL's manufacturing engineers for Design for Manufacturability (DFM) feedback, troubleshooting and testing

“This is unlike many other manufacturers. The factory is like an extension to our business,” says Matt.

• Machinery investments - ASL proactively invested in advanced machinery, such as a selective solder machine and a conformal coating spray booth, to enhance through-hole soldering quality and efficiency
• Production improvements – such as conforming coating, all while not impacting price or delivery times
• Flexible production & stock management – ASL has significant flexibility in accommodating small production runs for Link’s lower-volume products, and implementing a Kanban system to hold buffer stock, enabling Link to draw on immediate supply during demand surges
• Supply chain collaboration - ASL's strong supply chain team worked closely with Link, particularly during the challenges of COVID-19 and component shortages, to identify alternative solutions and ensure component availability
• Reporting systems – ASL provides transparent pricing and reporting to ensure open communication and ‘no surprises’. These include monthly Key Business Intelligence (KBI) reports, detailing liability of on-hand stock, DIFOT (Delivery In-Full, On-Time) performance, and quality metrics

“Not everyone else does this, or as good,” says Matt. “They do it REALLY well.”

Results

Matt describes ASL as “super responsive” to Link's needs and says, “I enjoy doing business with them.”

He says he sees them as an extension of Link’s own business.

Matt has a set of criteria he measures his suppliers and partners against, including:

1. Quality
2. Delivery
3. Price
4. Relationship

Here’s what he says about ASL

1. Quality

a. Consistently high quality – these are not simple products to manufacture, with A LOT of things that could go wrong according to Matt, but ASL continues to provide excellent quality, which he puts down to the team who always “go the extra mile”

b. Speed to market - linked to the high quality, Matt says they have been able to reduce time to market because of the excellent quality of prototype runs

2. Delivery

a. ASL consistently meets DIFOT targets, and any potential delays are communicated proactively, allowing Link to manage expectations and find solutions collaboratively

3. Price

a. Link does regular benchmarking and finds that ASL is consistently competitive on pricing with NZ AND overseas manufacturers

4. Relationship

a. Matt marks the team consistently highly on this area and it’s not just about personal relationships, this is about the partnership between ASL and Link having tangible business benefits

b. Flexible business growth - ASL's flexible production and Kanban system have allowed Link to buffer growth effectively, enabling immediate response to demand upsurges

c. Supply chain resilience - Matt says ASL have come up with different solutions and approached to solve any supply chain challenges

d. Enhanced solutions - ASL providing engineering input and problem-solving capabilities without Link needing in-house manufacturing engineers, resulting in “dozens and dozens” of improvements

"ASL is right up there with the best; in the top bracket. Most contract manufacturers can build the thing, but it is about the other things that go on that make the business smooth and easy,” says Matt

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