Knowledge centre
How we work
From first contact to delivery of a product
Kepser strives for long-term relationships with satisfied customers. During an initial meeting, we discuss your personal requirements for the product, your organisation’s approach to buying or outsourcing, and our company’s approach to production. In this way, we know precisely in advance what we can, may or have to expect of one another.
To achieve good levels of performance, it is important for us to reach clear agreements on the following topics:
- How the drawings are exchanged
- ​Quantities and order frequency Quality
- Price Lead
- Time
- Packagin
- Document
- Delivery method Contact persons and their
- Responsibilities Approach to the change
- Management of products and/or drawings
How the drawings are exchanged
Digital delivery is preferred. Next, we store the drawings in a digital format. We agree in advance whether drawings are automatically sent together with an order or enquiry, or whether they will be made available on request. Kepser uses the convertible formats IGES, STEP, DXF and DWG and, for documents that must not be changed, TIFF or PDF. Manual sketches, drawings and models are converted in the CAD system by Kepser’s engineering department. All product drawings are checked and, if necessary, made suitable for production. Determining the correct sheet metal result for Kepser is done with the aid of the 3D CAD model.
Quantities and order frequency
The organisation, production methods, tools and utilities of Kepser are of a standard you would expect from a modern supplier of sheet metal and profile work. Kepser has the universal tools and methods in house to be able to manufacture parts responsibly and for the right price, from one-offs to small series. The organisation is also partly geared to working in a repetitive manner. Among other factors, estimating the series size and number of orders is important when it comes to determining the production method and the associated price.
Quality
To arrive at the right price, it is important to know what the desired product quality is. The required tolerances, but also the finishing of the product, such as burr-free, broken edges, scratch-free, etc. And furthermore, any conservation or surface treatment, the welding method (weld lengths, heights and finishing), identification and other requirements.
Price
To handle the delivery correctly in financial terms, it is important to make agreements. These will mainly cover options such as fixed-price quotations, pricing based on post-calculation, quantity discounts, unit and setup costs. This also applies to the various payment terms and/or discounts and the validity of prices.
Lead time
A quotation will indicate the lead time and conditions in the event an order is placed. However, these can also be agreed on a mutual basis. Upon receipt of an order, we will confirm the delivery date in writing. Unforeseen issues in the progress of production will be notified to you by the logistics department without delay.
Packaging
Unless specified otherwise, we will deliver the products carefully packaged on wooden pallets or in boxes, to prevent them from being damaged during transport. If you require any other types of packaging in addition to any packaging materials supplied by yourself, such as packaging in crates, then the cost of these will be charged separately.
Documents
The products are shipped together with a dispatch note (packing slip) indicating at least the order number, number of items, item number and drawing number. We may also print the project number or location number on it. If required, the products may also be given a sticker or label showing this information.
Delivery method
Unless explicitly agreed otherwise, all deliveries and prices are ex works. However, if we arrange transport at your express request, you will be charged the shipping costs, the costs of the courier or the special freight costs as a separate invoice item. When we tell you that your order is ready, you can inform our logistics staff about the actual shipping method you have selected for that order.
Contact persons and their responsibilities
Relationship manager: general contact person, who is technically and financially responsible for our relationship with you.
Engineer: responsible for the production method of your product, based on the received information and drawing. Logistics employee: responsible for the lead time, completeness and shipping method.
Approach to the change management of products and/or drawings
As our organisation is designed to handle repetitive work, it is important to know how items and drawings are amended generally. It is also important to know whether you have corrected any reported drawing errors or followed through with suggested improvements. The modification must also be made to the item and/or drawing coding by means of a letter or number. Our procedures are tailored to handle this.
Production preparation
Once the agreements have been made, we can prepare for the order using our 3D-CAD system HiCAD and then proceed to define the production method. In addition to the bills of material, the route of the products (processes such as laser cutting, edge finishing, etc.) and the times needed for this will be entered into the production control system ISAH. The CAM program WiCAM is used to control the laser cutting machines. This allows us to organise and track the products and processes from start to finish. For the first order and for repeat orders.
