Olympic Steel – Bettendorf, IA: Mark Callan

The Bettendorf, IA facility asked to purchase spare parts for the Temper Mill Levelers from their usual vendor.

The request was approved for the quoted amount with an established vendor offering an estimated lead time of 18-20 weeks. Mark Callan, Maintenance Manager, trying to further control expenses, called one of the vendors who had supplied them with parts in the past and negotiated a lower price with a faster lead time. His follow-up resulted in a savings of over $100,000 and reduced lead time by eight weeks.

Lesson Learned:

When working with vendors on pricing, don’t be afraid to request a revised quote. Sometimes discussing goals, challenges and budget considerations with a vendor can get everyone closer to a win-win agreement.