Tri-County Welding Supplies is a privately owned welding supply distributor that has been servicing Southern Ontario for over 40 years. We represent a number of suppliers for welding supplies and equipment. Tri-County is part of the Air Liquide world-wide family. Air Liquide is in 64 countries of the world and does over $9 billion in business. It is the largest supplier of industrial, medical and specialty gases in the world. As such, Tri-County is able to capitalize on Air Liquide's expertise and strength in the industry. Tri-County and its customers benefit from their world-class research and development facilities of which there are three in North America.
Tri-County is now into the second generation of family members. There are three in number: Robert Filiatrault, B.A., C.I.M., President and C.O.O. John Filiatrault , B.Sc., Vice-president, Sales and Marketing and Paul Filiatrault Jr., B.Sc., Vice-President, Warehouse, Distribution and Filling Operations.
Supply Management
Tri-County utilizes the concept of " Commodity Bucket Management ". It involves the total commitment of both parties to co-operate in the management of the inventory in areas such as:
- elimination of excessive inventory (culling)
- obsolescence (reduction of)
- consignment (where practicable)
- emergency service (nights and weekends)
- vertical and horizontal commodity management (all products related to MRO--Maintenance, Repair and Operating Supplies)
Close Co-operation with Customer
Our objectives are no different than that of our customers and that's to serve the customer efficiently, hold down increased costs where possible and ensure that they reap the benefits of this policy. Tri-County practices J.I.T. delivery to complete orders fully. Invoices can be compiled monthly to reduce processing costs to the end user. System Contracting has been successfully implemented to major users with increased cost savings.
Customer Expectations
QUALITY SUPPLIER, RELIABLE DELIVERIES
It is an expectation that once an order is issued it will be delivered in the quantities requested and in
the time frame expected.
COST COMPETITIVE
Paying a premium for products today is not an acceptable
practice. Globalization means that companies, who are exporting, are expected
to be cost-competitive which relates back to the beginning of the process
where the incumbent supplier has to be cost-competitive.
TECHNICAL EXCELLENCE
Selling a product or a service without the technical
competence to set-up the product and explain how it works lacks fulfillment
of the contract between vendor and user. At Tri-County our people are trained
to set-up the product, install the product, train the operators and trouble-shoot
after the product has been put into use.
STABLE LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIPS
For a relationship to survive long-term,
the parties have to agree on some kind of formula that is practical and
workable. Clear-cut policies are important in ensuring customer satisfaction
with inventory selection, inventory levels and delivery expectations. Adjusting
and adapting to new demands guarantees that Tri-County
changes and develops relative to industry advances.
FEWER SUPPLIERS
Tri-County recognizes that many of our major customers have
embraced the trend to reduce suppliers, invoices, and purchase orders.
We will do everything in our power to meet and exceed these new demands
by way of increased use of technology and more effective use of existing
systems.
ULTIMATELY LOWER PROCUREMENT COSTS
Tri-County is committed to helping customers achieve the objective of lowering
procurement costs.
BLUESHIELD CONSULTANT
A computer-driven program evaluates the welding procedures now used (products,
gases. etc.) and the time taken to weld certain products
versus a different solution that achieves the same results faster and
at less cost. This program is delivered to the customer in hard copy
form so that the "new" solutions may be implemented based on reduced cost justification.
This program is provided free of charge. CAP* This is a more extended
computer program involving a complete review of the customer's
method of manufacturing, plant layout, movement of materials, choice
of materials and gases, etc. It would take a few weeks to accomplish
and would involve a high-level presentation of the results and expectations.
This program is charged for based on a specially developed fee schedule.
Cost Calculation
Audit & Analysis
Performance Measurement
INVENTORY MANAGEMENT
Our system of Inventory Management and Control has been designed in-house. It
is the result of recognizing the practical needs of our customers
who for the most part rely on us to provide the physical
inventory when needed and in the quantities demanded. Beginning
with the receiving of an order, which is entered into the
Direct Order Entry System, all incoming orders are immediately
passed along to the warehouse for completion. To avoid duplicate
shipments, lost orders, or other confusion, inventory is "reserved" and
removed from "stock
available" until shipped.
The Customer Service Department, therefore, can rely on their computer
information by accurately advising customers on availability of stock.
Our replenishment procedure is also an in-house
designed system set-up to take into consideration trend lines of consumption,
based on actual usage (turnover), lead times from
suppliers and reasonable expectations of R.O.I. for Tri-County. The
whole system can be overridden manually if necessary.
Insofar as actual customer use is concerned, Tri-County can and does provide for
replacement of materials consumed by having the Business Development Representative
visit the customer's stock room and arrange for re-supply of materials
consumed as well as the addition of any new items required. This is
a service that is provided at no cost to the customer
and can be made to function as often or as little as the demand
calls for.
TECHNICAL SUPPORT
Once Tri-County has introduced a new product or process, it is incumbent upon Tri-County
to provide the necessary application training and technical
expertise. This is an on-going service that we provide
at no cost to the customer.
Tri-County also provides services on a more formalized basis and it remains company policy
that this service be free-of-charge with customer purchases.
The company believes strongly in supplying this support
and as a consequence our Representatives are provided with sufficient
and on-going factory training. In addition, in-house
training and up-dating is also provided during the fall, winter and
spring months of the year whereby manufacturers' representatives
are invited to our premises to give lectures on the
proper application of their products or processes. The in-house
training program is carried on once a week and our
field representatives are joined by customer service and warehouse
personnel. These sessions are mandatory.
Our commitment to quality is our pledge.
This translates into the following "Value-Added" Services.
- Quality Assurance Manual for customers who wish to have either a controlled or uncontrolled copy
- Systems Contract Requisition the convenient way to order consumables and other items
- Blueshield Consultant a computer driven program available to customers who wish to establish actual welding costs and seek a way to reduce those costs where possible
- XPR (Higher Pressure and Higher Volume Cylinders) introduced to reduce changeover costs due to increased contents. (Exclusive to Canadian Liquid Air and its distributors)
- Technical and Safety Seminars provided by company experts Quality Products at competitive prices
- Qualified Field Representatives available to customers to help in the application of our products and processes
- Reliable Delivery Services providing products as and when needed
- Adequate Inventories maintained to serve customers efficiently and cost effectively
- Accurate Invoicing and Internal Systems backed up by state-of-the-art computer programming, direct order entry and computer hardware
- Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) is available to any customer who wishes to conduct business in this way.
