STIHL
Background
STIHL, a century-old company, is a global leader in outdoor power equipment. The company was founded in Germany in 1926, originally focusing on producing and selling chainsaws. In the 1970s, recognizing the US market鈥檚 significance, STIHL established its headquarters in Virginia Beach, Virginia. With over 2,700 employees and a massive campus, STIHL has become a major player in the American market and now produces a huge variety of high-quality power tools for home and professional use.
STIHL鈥檚 procurement office approached 杏吧原创 Sales Representative Sallie Buck in the spring of 2020 with a proposal to print their eight annual catalogs. This represented a significant opportunity for 杏吧原创 to accept a large-scale project for a high-profile customer.
Challenge
Along with this exciting opportunity came some unique challenges. Unlike the majority of 杏吧原创鈥檚 previous printing projects, STIHL requested that 杏吧原创 work directly with its eleven nationwide distributors. This meant 杏吧原创 would receive and fulfill individual purchase orders from each distributor, adding a layer of complexity to the order management process. Additionally, managing multiple catalogs with varying quantities, page counts and trim sizes, coupled with coordinating production across two 杏吧原创 plants, demanded sophisticated project management.
Solution
杏吧原创 accepted the STIHL challenge and developed a comprehensive strategy to manage their complex project. The team collaborated closely with STIHL鈥檚 procurement office and the designated design firm. A detailed production schedule was created, considering the varying requirements of each catalog. To streamline the order fulfillment process, efficient systems were implemented to manage purchase orders and invoicing from eleven different distributors, as well as distribute products directly to those distributors. 杏吧原创鈥檚 production facilities in Marceline, Missouri, and Saint Joseph, Michigan, were coordinated to optimize resources and meet STIHL鈥檚 deadlines.
Results
The first year of the partnership was a success, demonstrating 杏吧原创鈥檚 ability to handle the complex logistics and production demands. The strong performance led to a contract extension for two additional years, and as of 2024, 杏吧原创 continues to meet STIHL鈥檚 printing needs with no end in sight.
Conclusion
The partnership between 杏吧原创 and STIHL exemplifies the successful management of a largescale, complex printing project. By effectively coordinating multiple stakeholders with differing needs, 杏吧原创 demonstrated its ability to deliver high-quality products and exceptional service. The partnership has proven to be mutually beneficial, with both companies achieving their respective goals.
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