Frequently Asked Questions

• In terms of industrial products, does FTIS only supply electronic components?
  No. As we support customer engineers at the design level we are able to see the product as a whole rather than as individual components. More often than not this includes mechanical parts, plastic moldings and electromechanical parts as well as electronics. FTIS designs-in, sources and supplies all of these products. Certainly, since 2005 all three product groups represent an equal share of our product portfolio and we have specialized staff in each of the three areas.
• What supply chain services do you offer?
  We offer all four main types of supply chain management from the most basic indent supply through to complete 4PL supply chain management. At this extreme end of the scale, we do the planning, procuring, financing, delivery, and handle returns of the product. We start the process off with designing-in of the product with the client engineer right through to the delivery of the product to the production line. In short, the client only needs to provide a rolling forecast and pay for the product when it is actually consumed - FTIS does the rest.
• What is the difference between 3PL and 4PL?
  There are many definitions of the differences depending on what the supplier’s objectives are. However, if we look at the difference from the clients perspective in terms of ownership and responsibility of the supply chain, 3PL is all care and no responsibility, where as 4PL is all care and all responsibility. FTIS provides both 3PL & 4PL solutions, always with a focus on customer reqiurements.
• What electronic component brands can FTIS supply, and not supply?
  We are an independent company, rather than a distributer, so we are able to supply any brand. However, the brands we choose to support are required to be both reliable in terms of supply chain support and technical specification. Moreover, they must be willing to support the client into the future in terms of research and development.
• What about a complete 4PL supply chain solution to any client?
  No. A 4PL solution is customized to the client’s needs. Volume production requirements, product life cycle, philosophies, such as Lean and Theory of Constraints, all affect the dynamics of the supply chain. For 4PL to work effectively and bring about efficiencies, a client requires there be a medium to long term commitment, transparency, and a strong aspect of co-destiny.
• What sort of client would require a 4PL supply chain solution?
  Clients that FTIS provides 4PL services to normally have long term strategic intent. They are also looking to substantially reduce the ‘total cost of ownership’. This includes but not limited to, supplier management, warranty claims, inventory holding costs, material handling costs, inventory management costs, freight costs and production line down costs.
• Can you provide supply chain solutions to any client?
  Yes, in most cases. This includes indent, JIT and consignment stocks, as each solution is a development of the previous supply chain option and builds on core capabilities.