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Rifles, Reloading, Optics, Equipment
Gunsmithing
Real time custom gun assembly
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<blockquote data-quote="Coyboy" data-source="post: 797244" data-attributes="member: 3733"><p>Well since I'm getting out of the business let me give you guys a little tutorial on the process I used to manage my workload, and prevent a log jam in the process. For some people organization is not always there strong point, in this business it is a must,and unfortunately some excellent rifle builders may lack that skill.</p><p></p><p>I made a point of scheduling all my semi/custom builds, so as a down payment (ie firm commitment) came in for a build, that was already written up, it was given a completion month somewhere down the road based on what rifles were "already on the books" </p><p>The trick was to book months with a certain number of builds that I KNEW I could finish. I took the stance that I would rather under book a month. That would give me lee-way to catch up if for some reason I fell behind. Then about every 6th month I scheduled nothing, more "catch-up time" if needed. Doing this I kept 90% of rifles delivered in the month they were assigned to be delivered. If I needed work during a catch-up period it was easy enough to move every-body up on the schedule, or fill in time with re-barrels for the competitive shooters I serviced. Or pick up some little jobs. Doing this allowed me to continue to brake installs one week per month, as outlined on my web-site for those installs.</p><p></p><p>So it was truly a mix of long term commitments to full builds and allowing time for the fast turn-around items like bedding jobs, brake instals ect.</p><p></p><p>Now customers expectations can be much different based on how they went about the project. If you ordered all your parts and had them in hand, I would try and fit you into some slack time if that was at all possible. If it weren't, you went on the end of the list with the guys who I ordered parts for. because why should I push there builds back when they have been waiting, and the guy with the parts in hand demands a 4 week turn around? </p><p></p><p>Other things that could hold up a build that many customers fail to consider;</p><p></p><p>Parts orders, times can vary wildly on my orders from suppliers, I may be quoted 8 weeks and it ends up being 20. I have had stock makers lose an order and after waiting 16 weeks you call them and they lost it, then they take another 16 weeks to get it to me. It dosen't happen often but it does happen.</p><p></p><p>Reamers, I may have to order a new reamer for your project, or may have to send my reamer in for resharpening, depending how the work load lays out if your rifle was due in 6 weeks and my reamer needed a touch up I would rather send it in for service that may take 10 weeks than to cut your chamber on a dull or failing reamer.</p><p></p><p>Another thing some customers fail to consider, If you e-mailed me in January and asked about my lead times and I assured you you would get a rifle ordered today before sept 1st. But then you failed to follow up quickly and waited until March 1st to get the down payment in, guess what Now your rifle just got bumped by the 10 other guys that contacted me and got the down-payment in ahead of you.</p><p></p><p>Interruptions, The single owner operator really needs to manage his time well, customers demand open access to there smith but this also slows the production of your rifle and the dozens of other rifles he is committed to building. Calling to BS or ask about loads during the middle of a work day is purely inconsiderate of your rifle smith time. Send it in an e-mail so he can report back at his leisure, and off machine time.</p><p></p><p>Job changes in mid stream, about 25% of customers request a change mid-build, even just the addition of a single part can cause a delay, Know what you want when you place the order, I have been in the circumstance where a guys rifle is in the month of completion and now he wants a fluted barrel, guess what He just delayed every-ones build by 1 hour, thats what I will waist, talking to him on the phone and boxing up his barrel to send it back to the barrel manf. to flute. not to mention the delay he just caused the barrel maker in his shop, to rework an already out the door item. I currently have 2 rifles that were done 3 months ago sitting in the shop waiting for NF scopes, because the customer ordered them last minute and here I go again on suppliers lead times.</p><p></p><p>I by no means intend this to be an excuses for the smith who takes 2 years when he told you 6 months, this is just a brief outline of what the smith is going thru on his end that customers may fail to consider. Food for thought when you order your first or next build.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Coyboy, post: 797244, member: 3733"] Well since I'm getting out of the business let me give you guys a little tutorial on the process I used to manage my workload, and prevent a log jam in the process. For some people organization is not always there strong point, in this business it is a must,and unfortunately some excellent rifle builders may lack that skill. I made a point of scheduling all my semi/custom builds, so as a down payment (ie firm commitment) came in for a build, that was already written up, it was given a completion month somewhere down the road based on what rifles were "already on the books" The trick was to book months with a certain number of builds that I KNEW I could finish. I took the stance that I would rather under book a month. That would give me lee-way to catch up if for some reason I fell behind. Then about every 6th month I scheduled nothing, more "catch-up time" if needed. Doing this I kept 90% of rifles delivered in the month they were assigned to be delivered. If I needed work during a catch-up period it was easy enough to move every-body up on the schedule, or fill in time with re-barrels for the competitive shooters I serviced. Or pick up some little jobs. Doing this allowed me to continue to brake installs one week per month, as outlined on my web-site for those installs. So it was truly a mix of long term commitments to full builds and allowing time for the fast turn-around items like bedding jobs, brake instals ect. Now customers expectations can be much different based on how they went about the project. If you ordered all your parts and had them in hand, I would try and fit you into some slack time if that was at all possible. If it weren't, you went on the end of the list with the guys who I ordered parts for. because why should I push there builds back when they have been waiting, and the guy with the parts in hand demands a 4 week turn around? Other things that could hold up a build that many customers fail to consider; Parts orders, times can vary wildly on my orders from suppliers, I may be quoted 8 weeks and it ends up being 20. I have had stock makers lose an order and after waiting 16 weeks you call them and they lost it, then they take another 16 weeks to get it to me. It dosen't happen often but it does happen. Reamers, I may have to order a new reamer for your project, or may have to send my reamer in for resharpening, depending how the work load lays out if your rifle was due in 6 weeks and my reamer needed a touch up I would rather send it in for service that may take 10 weeks than to cut your chamber on a dull or failing reamer. Another thing some customers fail to consider, If you e-mailed me in January and asked about my lead times and I assured you you would get a rifle ordered today before sept 1st. But then you failed to follow up quickly and waited until March 1st to get the down payment in, guess what Now your rifle just got bumped by the 10 other guys that contacted me and got the down-payment in ahead of you. Interruptions, The single owner operator really needs to manage his time well, customers demand open access to there smith but this also slows the production of your rifle and the dozens of other rifles he is committed to building. Calling to BS or ask about loads during the middle of a work day is purely inconsiderate of your rifle smith time. Send it in an e-mail so he can report back at his leisure, and off machine time. Job changes in mid stream, about 25% of customers request a change mid-build, even just the addition of a single part can cause a delay, Know what you want when you place the order, I have been in the circumstance where a guys rifle is in the month of completion and now he wants a fluted barrel, guess what He just delayed every-ones build by 1 hour, thats what I will waist, talking to him on the phone and boxing up his barrel to send it back to the barrel manf. to flute. not to mention the delay he just caused the barrel maker in his shop, to rework an already out the door item. I currently have 2 rifles that were done 3 months ago sitting in the shop waiting for NF scopes, because the customer ordered them last minute and here I go again on suppliers lead times. I by no means intend this to be an excuses for the smith who takes 2 years when he told you 6 months, this is just a brief outline of what the smith is going thru on his end that customers may fail to consider. Food for thought when you order your first or next build. [/QUOTE]
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