NORTH AMERICA customer a lot more choice and allows the platform to evolve rapidly ”.
Ross works closely with other companies to develop the elements required to realize its product vision . CEO David Ross has worked extensively with NKK to develop componentry for Ross products . “ NKK is a Japanese firm that develops control switches – the human interface into our flagship product line of production switchers . That ’ s a good partnership because we don ’ t own that design . We don ’ t own that technology . We ’ re not capable of making these switches – nor do we want to be – but we worked very closely with the manufacturer to develop the product that meets our needs .”
As technology evolves , so does the company ’ s procurement strategy . “ If we ’ re using company X ’ s semiconductors , and then company Y comes out with a better one , and we ’ re in a design cycle where we can pick up the better one , we ’ re going to do it . It doesn ’ t mean that you end the relationship and never go back , because a lot of these technology companies leapfrog each other . Their positions might change every six months to a year . There ’ s certainly a balancing act in trying to
“ It ’ s an interesting market . I think part of the reason we ’ re successful and have been able to have this dynamic manufacturing setup here is that we service a somewhat limited market ”
— Bill Pulcine , Vice President of Supply Chain Management , Ross Video LTD
make the supply chain better on all fronts . Sometimes that means introducing new competitive elements to the situation . You might be reasonably happy with your supplier or suppliers , but that shouldn ’ t stop you from pushing to see how the situation might be improved . That may mean looking at competitors . We certainly value our suppliers and give them every opportunity to compete and maintain their
business , but not in a laissez-faire way .
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