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Post by zman215 on Apr 28, 2016 20:23:22 GMT -5
I was surprised to hear that you always expect rejects and defective units lowering your total saleable units. Can I ask what approximate percentage would you say is typically rejected? In this age I would expect better QC. We are not in the 70's anymore.
But this brings me to the real reason for this thread. As a country as a whole I feel we purchase too much from China. Yes, yes, I know we all want cheap stuff but lets admit it we all own too much stuff. Now, I don't want to debate the whole Donald Trump thing about implementing a 25% tariff on Chinese made goods. We don't have time for that kind of politics but has there been consideration among yourselves about ongoing Chinese production? As geopolitics factor more and more into manufacturing decisions, being stuck with manufacturing in China during a sudden regional conflict could be bad for business. And it is not far fetched to believe that even small tariff increases could be seen in the future. I am not as naive as Trump to think that manufacturing can easily be brought back to the US. It would be nice but we have to be realistic. There are supply chain issues, manufacturing equipment availability, and not to forget that little issue of costs but there are still many places in the world where manufacturing could still make since. As an American who is trying to cut back on Chinese made goods, I am curious to get your opinion on this issue.
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Post by modelwarships on Apr 28, 2016 21:23:47 GMT -5
I don't think anything good will come out of this topic. I'd vote to just delete it and move on.
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Post by bloodynose on Apr 28, 2016 22:14:59 GMT -5
I have to agree with Tim. This forum is not the place to start a political argument. We can all read labels to see where something is manufactured and we all make our own personal decision of whether we want to or can afford to purchase whatever it is we are interested in (maybe you should look to see where the computer or smart phone you are using was made!). If you do not want to purchase products from China or any other country [don't]! But please do not try to impose your ideals on me or the other members of this forum that probably don't want to hear it.
Best regards to you and all other members of this forum, Mark
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Post by Rob Albritton on Apr 28, 2016 22:56:25 GMT -5
I don't think anything good will come out of this topic. I'd vote to just delete it and move on. Probably correct, but here goes anyway.... Low single digits (3%) reject rate is what we typically see in a mature product. First runs of a brand new design can be all over the place; however, we get full credit for any reject and a rejected items are replaced (not re-manufactured) I occasionally use factory seconds (remade units) with my modular group at train shows. All those BNSF bethgons? yup: factory seconds, and most of them are one of three road numbers repeated over and over again. Gotta keep that train running so nobody notices! Here are some facts about AZL: 1) We contract all of our manufacturing to large factories that make model trains for a variety of brands and scales. 2) We have suppliers in Korea, Germany, China, and yes, even the USA. 3) We do not go where the price is lowest, but rather we go to the vendor that has the best quality. 4) We find that our reject rates are roughly the same at all of our vendors. 5) China has factories that make high quality goods, and others that make low quality goods. 6) The USA has factories that make high quality goods, and others that make low quality goods. 7) Given that our name is AMERICAN Z Lines, we do prefer to make goods in America; however (and this is the VERY important bit) while we have searched EXHAUSTIVELY there are very few factories remaining in the USA that have the knowledge or expertise to make Z scale trains. Remember, we do not own factories (or even have employees!) so we are NOT in the business of running a factory. IF WE CAN MAKE IT IN THE USA, WE WILL. But the truth of the matter is that we have only found ONE factory that has that ability, and they frequently tell us that we do better if we moved our business overseas. We do have a "buy American" policy, so we continue to do business with them. A 25% tariff on Chinese goods means we would raise our prices by 25% until we could move some of our business out of China - most likely to Eastern Europe. America can regain it's manufacturing base for high quality goods, but it will take more than the 8 years that any one President can occupy the White House to see a significant change. This did not happen overnight. It happened over decades. It will take that long to reverse it.
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Post by Rob Albritton on Apr 28, 2016 22:58:46 GMT -5
This thread was moved from "Product Announcements" to "Z scale" because it did not pertain directly to a new product
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Post by charlie on Apr 29, 2016 2:52:57 GMT -5
Thank you Rob for these information. I'm really a big fan of your work and all, and I do really hope the future will bring good for all & everything. That said, I hope this tread did not come up because I talked about the couplers problems on another post...if yes sorry about that. I'm really not into politics and this is not the place. I was just explaining my disappointment about the couplers, about their dysfunction and the difficulties to find a permanent working solution. I think this is a crucial part for trains that need to be solved... easy to say I know, but I(and I guess I'm not the only one)'d rather put some extra $ for something working properly instead of taking risks of breaking parts...by trying solving it myself.. Anyway, you have my support! Cheers!
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Post by Rob Albritton on Apr 29, 2016 6:21:18 GMT -5
Thank you Rob for these information. I'm really a big fan of your work and all, and I do really hope the future will bring good for all & everything. That said, I hope this tread did not come up because I talked about the couplers problems on another post...if yes sorry about that. I'm really not into politics and this is not the place. I was just explaining my disappointment about the couplers, about their dysfunction and the difficulties to find a permanent working solution. I think this is a crucial part for trains that need to be solved... easy to say I know, but I(and I guess I'm not the only one)'d rather put some extra $ for something working properly instead of taking risks of breaking parts...by trying solving it myself.. Anyway, you have my support! Cheers! No worries at all! You guys really are the best bunch of partners that anyone could ask for. And I meanthat word: Partners - because Hans and I are in this for the same reasons you are. We love it. Supper appreicate the feedback - positive and negative. Positive makes you feel good and know your headed in the right direction. Negative gives you a window into how to make things better. That being said, I've labored with the couplers myself. One bit of "good" new is that we recently replaced our own coupler tooling because we realized that after almost a quarter million shots, we had worn out the tooling!!! Is that "progress?" I guess it shows a healthy interest in Z scale. Another bit of exciting news: I think we finally have a good working body mount coupler. We are going to introduce it on our new P42 locomotives, and we are also going to have it on our next run of RDC (so yes, these really are improvements we make to our products - not just a repeat of past runs) hopefully it gives people a reason to take a second look at something thats not brand spanking new. Thanks for the support!
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Post by charlie on Apr 29, 2016 7:00:32 GMT -5
Super thanks! We love you guys!
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Post by emaley on Apr 29, 2016 8:49:25 GMT -5
I have had similar feelings about Chinese goods, although it started with counterfrit aircraft parts. Bogus goods are not limited to China either. The good part is that we have gotten some amazing little machines from AZL and out of China. Lets not forget, the tolerances required in Z scale would vex many manufacturers. AZL seems to have made good choices in suppliers and that's good for us. We reap the benifits. Great job searching for a solution. I still remember in the late 60's and early 70's when Japan was where China is now. It gets better.
Trey
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Post by boxcarwilly on Apr 29, 2016 9:13:54 GMT -5
I have to agree with the China thing, but if you do move production out of China, please, please, please, don't move it to Pakistan, India, or any country around there. The situation will only go from bad to worse. In as far as the couplers are concerned, Rob, are you going to offer retrofitting to past produced cars and engines, or at the very least, offer the couplers as a single unit so we can retrofit our rolling stock that have couplers that don't work now? I hope that your new coupler will hold together on trains longer then 15 cars on grades of 2% and more and not pull apart. Perhaps something that can easily be uncoupled either by a device implanted in the track and controlled by a switch, or a hand held remote unit.
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Post by domi on May 1, 2016 11:28:21 GMT -5
Another bit of exciting news: I think we finally have a good working body mount coupler. Interresting news. Will it fit with every AZL unit, older or younger? Dom
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