Spotlight On
management and customer support. We work as an extension to your business, we consider ourselves part of your team, which is not something all distributors can offer, especially the larger household names. We provide a personalised service dedicated to you and your business, ensuring we notify you of component obsolescence, last chance to buys, new products, price reviews and product availability. We understand that time to market is crucial, that’s why we keep customers updated on production and delivery every step of the way. We offer a large but considered
product range, providing a convenient way to shop with all your power electronic requirements under one roof. We offer competitive pricing, and we’re confident that our prices won’t be beaten elsewhere which is why we welcome the opportunity to beat an existing quote with the goal to provide customers with a value-added service. GD Rectifiers offers a multi-tiered design service, from advice on obsolete parts to a full engineering solution for customer designs. By using us as a distributor, customers get hands on experience with OEMs products and how they can be used in applications. We work hard to bring customers the right products and solutions at the best possible prices.
Why have so many semiconductor components become obsolete this year?
The automotive industry has continued to have an impact on the power electronics industry, an increase in demand for semiconductors has forced OEMs to revise their product offering and make devices that utilise old technology or parts that are in low demand obsolete. In an effort to free up production time in what is already an over stretched industry, OEMs know the quickest way to improve lead times on their best performing parts is to issue end of life’s for the slower moving devices, allowing them to focus on mass production of popular parts, supporting distributors, day-to-day customers and the surge of the new automotive business.
Has this years’ passive and semiconductor component shortages had any effect on GD Rectifiers? If so, what have you done to try to help customers with their requirements?
Strong core stock inventory this year has benefited us across numerous product ranges and we’ve been able to support both our existing and new customers. We’re not afraid to take on extra stock when the industry foresees component shortages, but we always look to gauge customers demand and where possible product forecasts to ensure we have an accurate idea on usage before we commit. When there are component shortages
throughout the industry we strongly encourage customers to place scheduled orders, this safeguards the stock, we manage their inventory and stock it on our shelves which ensures they receive it on time and often enough at a more competitive price because we order a larger amount upfront with smaller scheduled drops. Our number one priority is to continue our exceptional communication stream with both our customers and OEMs. We liaise with the factories on lead times,
www.cieonline.co.uk
improvements and delivery updates. We then support our customers by making sure we have the stock they need when they need it. Even if it means changing the components we use on our builds to free up stock or recommending mechanically interchangeable replacement parts as an interim solution or long term buying strategy for either availability or price purposes.
What are you most excited about in the future of power electronics industry and why?
The most exciting development for us is IoT (Internet of Things) – it’s continuing to drive new technology and designs helping our industry to evolve and we’re partnering with customers to help shape our future because IoT is making the unimaginable, imaginable.
As IoT continues to evolve, technology is fast becoming more personalised to consumer lifestyles. The continued focus on IoT means that manufacturers can now benefit from the combination of mobile computing and cloud services. This changes how the delivery and fulfilment companies are performing their operations and the services they offer which will ultimately affect our supply chain and the way the industry operates.
What do you think is the most important aspect to achieving and maintaining success in business?
The single most important aspect to GD Rectifiers is to truly understand the customer and their needs.
At GD Rectifiers, we have a wide range of customers, we serve individuals, SMEs, large manufacturers and even theme parks, schools and universities. All of our customers need very specific parts either in an emergency or within a few weeks/months. In order for us to understand our customer, we need to understand their business and how they operate. We need to know the buying behavior of their customers and their end applications to make sure we can supply what is required. We know our customers prefer to get in touch and shop in different ways so we give them the option to visit our website, call us or send an email to place an order. We understand the new generation of engineers and graduates prefer to engage with video content which is why we bring the latest OEM news and product launches to them via our YouTube channel, featuring product tutorials and interviews with the world’s most experienced engineers.
Understanding the diversity in our customer base is crucial, which is why we’re constantly analysing and altering how we communicate with our customers based on their ever-changing shopping preferences. Alongside being customer conscious, businesses need to be willing to change and evolve in order to succeed. Businesses need to be data- driven and use it to power decision making across all aspects of the business – buying, sales and marketing.
What technology do you think will disrupt the sector over the next twelve months?
IoT (Internet of Things) will have an enormous impact on the manufacturing industry, with new systems allowing businesses to access more data and metrics on consumer buying behaviours and product performance, providing a real- time demand forecast. IoT will also revolutionise transportation networks including smartphone detection, traffic congestion, smart roads, smart lighting, intelligent shopping and smart parking, the opportunities available to IoT adopters are endless. Brexit will also have a huge impact on manufacturing, commerce and logistics. Global production and supply chains are affected by many of the European Unions laws and standards, which will impact the industry. The power electronics industry will be affected by the restriction in free movement of goods, imposition of tariffs on components and products, access to skilled labour, We’re confident that there will likely be a grace period after Brexit comes into effect and once there is clarity on what exactly Brexit will mean, the European electronics industry will continue to evolve in its wake.
What advice would you give to young people starting out in the industry?
My initial advice would be to secure an internship, hands on experience by far outweighs anything you can read in a textbook. Try to stay in touch with the
Components in Electronics November 2019 31
companies you intern/work at and even seek a mentor in your manager within one of your first roles, use them for support and guidance in your early career days. Never lose sight of the passion you have for your career and the industry, never stop asking questions or being inquisitive and keep pushing boundaries. Always be willing to continue learning,
you’re never too young or old to learn a new skill or technique within the field, challenge your knowledge on new products and learn everything you can. Remember to network – go to local networking events and stay in touch with those people you meet, believe it or not it’s a small world and chances are you’ll run in to that person again one day or you’ll end up working with them at some point. And lastly, have fun and enjoy the challenges because the work you do will help change the world some day.
gdrectifiers.co.uk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56
