What We Do to Combat Raw Material Scarcity

By: Scott Bahr

Bit Service is proudly Canadian, and when possible we source 100% of raw materials from here in Canada, and further into suppliers from our trading partners in the US. We’re very focused on our materials coming from within Canada and North America, but this can sometimes cause problems. A scarcity or shortage of raw materials can happen, and this can affect the overall chain of production. While this rarely happens to us at Bit Service, it can definitely occur. Here are just a few tips on how to produce what you need and handle material scarcity.

Focusing local first

We’re a huge believer in supporting local businesses and contributing back to our economy right here at home. That’s why, even if it can sometimes be more expensive, we’re focused on buying our raw materials from Canadian suppliers. If we can’t find something at home, then we look to North America, and we try to avoid going outside of the continent as much as possible. This can be a challenge because there is an increasing pressure to compete with out-of-continent suppliers, but the value of supporting the local economy is greatly important for us at Bit Service.

Be proactive

Again, because we buy locally first, there might not always be an abundance of the materials we need. We seek to be proactive in our purchasing decisions to combat this. For example, if we are informed there is going to be an upcoming scarcity coming up of steel, we will adjust and raise our inventories to ensure we have enough to wait out the scarcity period. Always keeping track of what to expect next can prevent us from ever falling victim to scarcity and not having the supplies we need. Don’t over-purchase, but make sure to have what is necessary.

Manufacturing our own parts

If it’s more effective for us to manufacture a part ourselves, then that’s exactly what we do. There are a few considerations when it comes to this method. We don’t just look at how much cheaper it would be for us to make the part, but if we could do it better than another company looking to sell us the parts. Additionally, if a customer finds value in a product that a vendor of ours stops selling, we can move to manufacture it ourselves in order to fulfil the customer’s needs. This gives us an edge when it comes to scarcity because if we have the raw materials, we can sometimes make what we need ourselves.

We’re all about internal innovation and problem-solving at Bit Service. Sometimes it’s true that we know exactly how to make something work better or produce a better product than someone else. And with over 50 years of experience, it’s a great way to not only support local suppliers but provide the best possible options to our customers.

If you’re interested in learning more about what Bit Service can do to help get you the best products, reach out to us, and we can discuss what you need (and why we’re the best people to provide it).