Author: obsoadmin

£50K Saved in 48 Hours: Emergency Parts Sourcing in Action

When Downtime Isn’t an Option, Speed Is Critical

Rapid legacy parts sourcing helped a manufacturer avoid £50,000 in downtime-related losses during an unplanned automation failure.

 

The Challenge: Conveyor System Disruption

The facility’s main conveyor system experienced repeated interruptions due to servo drive failures, halting production and putting delivery schedules at risk.

Although the maintenance team quickly identified the issue, the OEM provided a lead time of several weeks for replacement components — a delay that would have resulted in substantial financial and operational losses.

The Response: Obso Automation Delivers — Fast

To avoid extended downtime, the manufacturer engaged Obso Automation for emergency parts sourcing. Our team immediately initiated a global search, leveraging a trusted supplier network and in-house inventory of hard-to-find components.

⏱️ Sourcing & Delivery Timeline [48 Hours]

• Hours 1–12: Specification review and inventory sourcing initiated

• Hours 12–36: Components located, quality verified, and procurement completed

• Hours 36–48: Express delivery arranged

 

 

The Outcome: Full Recovery, Zero Quality Compromise

Production was fully restored within 48 hours of initial contact, delivering the following measurable results:

• £50,000+ in downtime-related losses avoided

• Replacement components met all quality and performance standards

• Uninterrupted resumption of full production capacity

 

 

Strategic Insight for Manufacturers

This case highlights a critical operational risk: legacy equipment failures often expose supply chain limitations. Standard procurement timelines are insufficient during urgent outages, and unplanned downtime carries a significant financial impact.

Key Questions for Your Operation:

• Which components in your facility pose long-lead-time risks?

• Do you have a contingency plan for sourcing obsolete or end-of-life parts?

• Can your team activate emergency support within hours, not days or weeks?

 

 

Planning for Legacy Automation Failures

Many industrial facilities rely on automation systems deployed over a decade ago. While these assets remain productive, sourcing parts for legacy systems requires specialist knowledge, established supplier relationships, and rapid response capabilities.

Obso Automation takes the lead on proactive sourcing, helping you avoid costly delays and ensuring fast recovery when critical components fail.

 

 

Need Emergency Parts Sourcing?

Obso Automation is ready when you need us:
📩 Email: sales@obsoautomation.com
📞 Phone: 0800 36 888 17

The Real Story Behind MRO Purchasing Partnerships

Anyone who’s worked in maintenance knows the headache of hunting down obsolete parts. One missing component can bring everything to a standstill, and suddenly you’re scrambling to keep operations running. This is where solid partnerships become your lifeline.

 

Why Good Partners Matter

You know that feeling when your regular supplier comes through with a hard-to-find part just when you need it? That’s no accident. The best partners in this business aren’t just selling parts – they’re keeping your operation alive. When production stops because of a missing component, every tick of the clock costs money.

These relationships go deeper than simple transactions. Your best partners know your equipment inside and out. They understand which parts you can’t afford to run low on, and they’ll give you a heads-up when they spot trouble coming.

 

The Parts Hunt Challenge

Looking for obsolete parts is tough. Supply chains break. Natural disasters hit. Global events throw everything into chaos. Suddenly that part you need is nowhere to be found, or the price has shot through the roof.

Sure, there’s always someone willing to sell you cheaper alternatives. But anyone who’s been burned by counterfeit parts knows that’s a gamble not worth taking. One faulty component can take down an entire production line.

 

Building Trust That Lasts

Real partnerships take time. They’re built on countless phone calls, solved problems, and delivered promises. It’s about showing up when things go wrong and working together to find solutions.

Trade shows and industry meetups might seem old school, but they’re gold mines for finding reliable partners. Nothing beats meeting someone face-to-face and hearing firsthand how they’ve helped others in similar spots.

 

Smart Money Through Strong Ties

Let’s get real about costs. Good partners help you save money without cutting corners. They’ll work with you on bulk orders, set up payment plans that make sense, and find ways to ship more efficiently.

Think about your best suppliers. They’re the ones who remember your emergency weekend calls, who know your equipment specs by heart, and who’ve helped you dodge more than a few bullets over the years.

 

Obso Automation’s Role

Look, we get it – nobody wants their production line sitting idle because of one missing component. That’s exactly why we’re here. Skip the endless phone calls and desperate searches. Our network usually has what you need.

Obsolete parts that haven’t been made in years? Rare components nobody seems to stock anymore? These are exactly the headaches we fix for maintenance managers every day. It’s what we do best.

Got better things to do than chase down parts? Give us a call or send us an enquiry via email: 

📞 +44 (0)800 36 888 17
📧 sales@obsoautomation.com
🌐 www.obsoautomation.com

We’ll handle the parts hunt while you focus on keeping your operation running. Simple as that.

 

Bottom Line

Finding and keeping good MRO partners isn’t just business – it’s survival. These relationships make the difference between smooth operations and costly shutdowns.

Obso Automation advises manufacturers to act now ahead of summer factory shutdowns

Importance of Summer Factory Shutdowns

 

Obso Automation recommends manufacturers prepare for summer factory shutdowns. Managers are urged to stock up on machine parts for planned maintenance to reduce downtime. Make necessary repairs before the shutdown period to streamline operations.

The summer season often presents an ideal opportunity for factories to carry out routine services and crucial maintenance activities, equipment upgrades and repairs. However, without proper planning and the timely procurement of necessary machine components, factories may face unexpected challenges that can disrupt operational efficiencies.

To address this issue, Obso encourages factory managers to place orders for machine parts well in advance of shutdowns to ensure the availability of essential components, reduction of lead times and mitigate the risk of extended downtime.

In addition to procuring the relevant inventory, factory managers must also consider the involvement of workers and specialised contractors for specific maintenance tasks. Some factories may require contractors to perform oil changes and annual servicing for motors and robotics – ensuring optimal performance and extending the lifespan of critical machinery. To allow this to work seamlessly, factory managers must ensure contractors are booked in advance to coincide with shutdown dates, and that the relevant inventory is readily available in time for both shutdowns and for when contractors have been booked in.

 

Recommendations from Obso Automation

 

Experts at Obso also advise planning for the start-up of machinery at the end of the shutdown period. After weeks of inactivity and extreme heat, machinery can be unpredictable, so to avoid any extra downtime in the event of issues upon start-up, factory managers should prepare for the potential manpower, spares and equipment needed to ensure the process runs smoothly.

Partnering with Obso can ensure access to expert advice and a wide range of new, active, and obsolete industrial automation spares thanks to its connections with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and a global MRO supply chain. Even offering a repairs/reconditioning programme, part replacement and service-exchanged parts to support maintenance operations.

 

Leroy Spence, Managing Director at Obso, comments: “We recommend factory managers and machine operators to get their parts ordered ahead of upcoming summer shutdowns. We and our stockists have spares ready and waiting to go out, which means we can often get inventory to our customers faster than even the OEM can.

Most of the items we secure can be shipped worldwide for free, which is a great bonus to enjoy at a time when investments are focused on maintenance and repair operations. Although we strongly advise pre-planning and ordering parts way ahead of a shutdown to ensure parts arrive on time, we are here to provide support with last-minute, unexpected orders by offering express delivery options.”

 

For further information on how Obso can assist with your summer shutdown operations, call 0800 36 888 17 or email sales@obsoautomation.com to speak with an experienced Obso advisor.

Above and beyond to Mitigate Long Lead Times

Lengthy lead times affect us all, but there are ways to navigate the issues they can pose. 

 

One of the biggest problems in our industry is the culture of suppliers knowingly overpromising, quoting a shorter lead time to win an order. 

 

At Obso, we always aim to deliver components within the timeframes that we tell a customer at the time of ordering. We use our expertise in the market to anticipate any potential issues and work out how we can overcome them. This not only helps manage expectations but also means we breed a culture of honesty and transparency – overpromising doesn’t help anyone.

 

When it comes to delivery, it’s important to go for the most reliable option – not the cheapest. 

We build good relationships with our couriers and this in turn often helps make the process run more smoothly. Genuine daily interactions result in loyalty and quality of service, which then alleviates lead time issues that may arise.

 

The same goes with customs clearance agents in the countries that we trade-in. We take pride in getting to know them on a personal level so that we can mutually go above and beyond to get the jobs done swiftly and reliably. We understand that although we may be the “face” of Obso, many other people make up the whole process. If you consistently treat people well, then you will be rewarded by a team of good people who make up the bones of your business.

 

To further mitigate long lead times, it’s important to have a good understanding of processes in every country. We found that when the UK left the EU, we were educating customers on changes and new processes, advising them on what information or paperwork was needed to import and export parts swiftly. This added value is incredibly important to us and we’re happy to use our many years of experience and knowledge to help our customers combat any potential issues.

 

At the heart of this inside knowledge is, once again, the relationships we form with people across the globe. From making regular trips to the States and getting to know people and their systems, to attending Chamber of Commerce meetings to network with fellow members on home soil, we glean invaluable insight that we can then share with our customers.

 

We also think it’s vital to prioritise great service. Speed of delivery is key to the business and that’s why it’s so important for us to train and incentivise our teams to deliver quality service every time. This culture seeps through Obso and is the lifeblood of what we do. We want to take away the stress of long lead times from our customers and make the process much easier. Essentially, we make a promise to our customers, and fulfilling this promise is important to us.

 

Obso has created a free five-point plan to help guide operators through some key steps to take to mitigate lead times. If you’d like to discuss your requirements, please contact us at +44 (0)800 36 888 17, or email sales@obsoautomation.com.

Identifying Counterfeit Parts

Counterfeit components extend beyond being mere inexpensive replicas. They present substantial hazards to the intricate manufacturing process, which hinges on the harmonious collaboration of an array of automated industrial parts. These substandard elements carry the potential to trigger numerous malfunctions, capable of bringing production to a standstill, jeopardising the well-being of employees, and resulting in substantial financial losses due to repairs and missed sales.

 

In light of this, what proactive measures can be taken to safeguard your production process?

Our Warehouse Specialist in Quality Assessment has over five years of experience in counterfeiting procedures, he goes on to say, “All industrial parts that come across my desk undergo rigorous tests to ensure that all parts supplied to the Obso clientele are genuine. Here are some of the preventative measures I’ve employed to stop over 215 fake parts from reaching our clients:”

Source Wisely: Cooperate with reliable vendors who have a history of authenticity and excellence. At Obso, we use a very niche group of suppliers and put them through a rigorous testing process. We also do not make any purchases from China, as we’ve realised that more part imitations are prevalent within that region.

Implement Stringent Verification Procedures: For all incoming parts, set up verification protocols. As a rule of thumb in our onboarding process, all new suppliers who pass through the initial testing phase must complete a supplier agreement and agree to supply only genuine original manufacturer parts. We also include clauses such as limiting them from buying from certain suppliers or parts of the world. And as an additional future-proof reference, any suppliers that send counterfeit goods are automatically entered into our non-conformance report, investigated and blacklisted within our system.

For every part that comes in for repair or replacement, these are some practical ways we perform quality checks:

• All barcoded units are scanned to ensure what is scanned matches what is on the unit.
• Manufacturer labels are checked to ensure the text displayed on the nameplate matches the font of known genuine parts and there are no spelling mistakes.
• Check the casing material is correct.
• Check that the unit weight matches genuine manufacturer parts

 

Below are some counterfeit units that have been stopped during our quality checks. These examples show common indicators that the goods are not genuine with serial numbers being tampered with and spelling mistakes displayed on the unit.

 

Educate Your Team: Equip your employees with information about spotting fake parts. The first line of defence is awareness – knowing what to look for and how it can be mitigated.

 

Keep up-to-date: Keep an eye out for new trends in counterfeiting. Future problems can be avoided by being proactive and remaining one step ahead of the game.
Even though fake industrial automation parts are cunning, you can outsmart them using the appropriate tactics. By guaranteeing the legitimacy and calibre of every component in your supply chain, you are prioritising not just the integrity of your products but also the safety of your employees and the production process as a whole.

The Food and Beverage manufacturing sector is a huge arena

The Food and Beverage manufacturing sector is a huge arena, shaping an $8 trillion industry globally, and contributing more to the economy. The food and beverage industry is dedicated to ensuring food safety above all else. With regular equipment washdowns to maintain strict hygiene standards, every component must be designed to withstand exposure to water without damage. Motors, rollers, conveyors – all parts utilize food-safe steel coatings to comply with industry regulations.

To meet the growing demands of consumers worldwide, food and beverage plants now operate 24/7. Consequently, maintenance is often reactive, occurring in response to issues rather than preventatively. However, in an industry with tight profit margins, any unexpected downtime results in substantial costs. When a production line goes offline unexpectedly, financial losses can quickly escalate. There is an urgent need to restore operations as soon as possible.

 

That’s why smart maintenance practices are critical for food and beverage manufacturers. Here are some recommendations:

• Implement a rigorous preventive maintenance program to identify potential problems before they occur. Schedule regular equipment inspections and part replacements.
• Utilize condition monitoring sensors to track metrics like vibration and temperature. Analyze this data for insights into emerging issues.
• Keep detailed maintenance logs to understand failure patterns and guide future upkeep.
• Stock critical spare parts onsite to enable quick repairs when issues arise.
• Train maintenance staff on proper hygienic design principles and food-safe protocols.
• Explore new technologies like remote monitoring and predictive maintenance to maximize uptime.

 

With proactive maintenance as a priority, food and beverage manufacturers can avoid costly downtime events. Keeping a sharp focus on food safety while optimizing production is critical in this fast-paced, high-volume industry. Implementing smart maintenance best practices will enable companies to reap the benefits of maximized throughput and minimized disruptions.

Maintenance Matters for Manufacturers

At Obso Automation, we are passionate about our service for our customers and this goes above and beyond taking an order. Customer service, care and satisfaction over a long period is what we are here for, and the health and safety of our customers is a massive part of that. Just as counterfeit goods can pose a risk to customers and their teams, so can poorly managed maintenance. Timely, methodical and robust maintenance programmes should run to keep you and your team safe and to help avoid unnecessary downtime. With several high-profile stories in the press recently across the world it has never been more important to take stock, check your equipment and plan for replacing parts that are nearing the end of their usability.

 

When you know equipment will need testing or could be due for replacement, you can contact us in advance to ensure you have your part on time. We can even work alongside you to ensure we have the stock you need when you need it so you never run the risk of using a piece of automation equipment that really should have been replaced. If you don’t have the room to stock your spares, work with us and know we’ll have the part when you need it.

 

A supplier with an inventory management programme like the Obso Automation 360 inventory management program can help you keep your lines open, reliable and most importantly running safely. We can proactively work with you so you don’t get caught out and with our specialism in obsolete and notoriously hard-to-find parts, you can let us find a safe, working replacement long in advance of you needing it. Contact us to see how we can help you plan and manage your stock!

Obso Automation sponsors the Stafford football team

Obso Automation has collaborated with Academy Club to sponsor the Stafford Falcons under 9s team.

The squad made up of 9 players has just finished an unbelievable season which saw them play teams a year up (these kids should be playing in the under 8’s), win 8-0 in the semi-final to reach the final! Despite not taking the trophy this year, the team still ended the season with a sea of smiles.

As part of our ongoing support of the local community, Obso Automation alongside the Academy Club has bought a new match kit and training kit for every player. With no rest for these dedicated young players, they’ll keep training every week and throughout the summer holidays ready to take on their next tournament.

Leroy Spence, Director and Founder of Obso Automation said,

“It’s really important to encourage and support kids in sports these days. Activity, friendship, competition and determination help form the foundations for life and we’ll always be here to support the communities in which we work. I have watched some of the kids in the squad go from being quiet, shy and unable to kick a ball, into driven, focused and outgoing kids who have formed friendships with children from other schools, and found ambition to better themselves – these skills will shape their future whether that’s on or off the pitch and we’re proud to help.”

Obso Automation is now on Trustpilot!

We are excited to announce that Obso Automation has launched a Trustpilot page to gather customer reviews and feedback. Trustpilot is an independent review platform that allows consumers to share their experiences with businesses.

At Obso Automation, we highly value your feedback on our products and services. Your reviews allow us to continuously improve while demonstrating our commitment to quality service. We strive to provide the best possible experience for our customers.

We would really appreciate it if you could take the time to leave a review of Obso Automation on Trustpilot. Your honest and thoughtful reviews help future customers make informed decisions when choosing automation solutions.

Please visit our Trustpilot page here: https://lnkd.in/eh3rBfZt

Thank you for choosing Obso Automation! We look forward to hearing about your experiences with our products and solutions. Your feedback is invaluable as we work to offer the highest quality automation systems and unmatched customer service.

Please reach out anytime with questions or concerns. We are always happy to hear from our customers.