One of the things clients often call out about dealing with ASL is our fantastic team and how they help their businesses and go ‘above and beyond’ when needed. We think our team and approach is one of the things that makes us a bit special!
We thought it would be fun to introduce a few of the people behind the scenes.
As one of ASL’s Senior Purchasing Officers, Rovic manages the component supply for some of our largest customers. His role is truly central in keeping our manufacturing running smoothly.
He sources and secures components, manages relationships with suppliers, and solves problems (yes, they do happen!) These all help us hit production timelines and manage costs efficiency.
Rovic’s 30-plus year career has spanned all areas of the supply chain, including working with semiconductor manufacturers in the Philippines and contract electronic manufacturers here in New Zealand. He joined ASL more than two decades ago, making him our longest-serving employee.
While every day has its share of routine tasks — checking orders, following up with suppliers, and managing order carts — Rovic says no two days are really alike.
Much of the purchasing process is now automated, but the human layer still matters. Some of the tasks Rovic focuses on include:
Rovic is well-aware of the importance of the human factor in today’s electronic and automated environment. As he puts it:
“On the purchasing side there’s much less phone work these days. A lot is electronic — order carts, PDFs, email.
But when things get complex, you still need to pick up the phone or jump on a call with the customer or supplier.”
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the value of experience. With global shortages and pressure on lead times, decisions had to be made quickly.
“Speed of decision was crucial,” explains Rovic.
“A supplier would say, this is the last part available, do you want it or not? You could only make that call if you had the experience behind you.”
During that period, Rovic’s long-standing supplier relationships and judgment helped ensure customers still received the parts they needed, when they needed them. These relationships and his experience still help him on a day-to-day basis.
A good example of the critical role Rovic plays is in working with customers when component lead times blow out. Instead of delivering bad news, he brings options:
As he explains, sometimes waiting 10 days could save thousands of dollars, but the trade-off might mean missing a critical launch date. His job is to make sure customers can see those choices clearly and decide what matters most.
Rovic is part of a team of 5 who work together, and he has a real passion for imparting knowledge and upskilling members of the team.
Outside of ASL, Rovic and his wife Rosabel enjoy travelling, catching up with friends, and watching football and basketball.
If you want help to scale and a partner who acts like part of your team, get in touch - we'd love to chat.
