Procurement optimisation special vehicle construction
Maximum cost-efficiency and security of supply despite high complexity: Through targeted Procurement optimisation in special vehicle construction We sustainably reduce your material costs, stabilise your supply chains for small series production, and reduce technical complexity in procurement. We deliver measurable results through deep technical understanding and a global supplier network tailored to the specific requirements of special vehicle construction.
Mastering the challenges of special vehicle construction procurement
Special vehicle manufacturing is characterised by extreme product variety, low production volumes, and a high proportion of purchased parts. Purchasing departments are often faced with the challenge that technical specifications severely limit supplier selection (single sourcing) and price determination remains opaque due to low volumes. Professional purchasing optimisation starts precisely here: We break down rigid structures, establish a technical value stream design, and secure your production through proactive risk management.
Key Facts at a Glance
- Complexity Management: Reducing parts variety through standardisation, despite customer-specific solutions.
- Total Cost of Ownership (TCO): Holistic consideration of logistics, quality, and acquisition costs.
- Supplier Panel Optimisation: Tapping into New, Specialised Supplier Markets (Best Cost Country Sourcing).
- Technical leverage: Support through technical benchmarking and cost engineering.
Sustainable value creation through strategic category management
Purchasing as a Growth Engine in the Special Vehicle Industry
Analogous to car manufacturers, the demands have risen significantly with smaller capacities and batch sizes. Specific customer solutions often conflict with available standard solutions. This necessitates ongoing coordination between engineering, sales, and production. The company that best manages the screws of effectiveness, flexibility, cost, and deadlines is most likely to master the competition. Many of the main components are from large suppliers (electrics, hydraulics, basic chassis). Our special vehicle team, during a Kloepfel project, unearths undiscovered profit potential with you by, among other things, helping to use materials more efficiently, standardising products even in small series, finding innovative suppliers, for example for lightweight construction, and conducting workshops with existing suppliers to identify jointly achievable savings potentials.
Awarded BEST CONSULTANTS – 10th time in a row
Example Project Outcome (anonymised)
Processed material groups, among others.
Hydraulic cylinders, hydraulic blocks, GRP components, machining, sensors, energy chains, C parts, extruded profiles, welded assemblies, sheet metal processing, electrical components, lighting, cables
Example Project Scorecard
Project volume: €36.4 million
Processed volume: €25.2 million
Project Team: 2 Consultants
Project duration: 12 months
EFFICIENCY FOR SPECIAL VEHICLES
Satisfied customers
„Not only the total sum of directly achieved savings, but also the further potential that we can realise through our purchasing in the near future, are remarkable.“
“All the sessions were well prepared, including the documentation.”
„Over the entire project duration, they achieved a minimisation of procurement costs of around €2.5 million.“
„Our combined annual savings of almost €1.1 million speak for themselves. Our initial scepticism, stemming from considerable negative experiences with consulting firms in the past, was quickly dispelled by measurable results.“
Would you like to learn more about the special vehicle construction industry, or do you have other questions about KLOEPFEL Consulting?
Convincing
References
Our industry expertise
Mechanical and Plant Engineering
Handel
Automotive
FAQ: Important questions about purchasing optimisation for special vehicle construction
Why is purchasing in special vehicle construction so unique?
Unlike mass-production, small batch sizes and a very high engineering content dominate here. Purchasing must therefore act less as a pure negotiator and more as a strategic partner to development, in order to influence manufacturing costs as early as the design phase.
How do you manage the problem of single sourcing?
We analyse critical components and specifically look for qualified alternative suppliers or work with your technical team to develop solutions for a redesign, in order to reduce dependencies and increase competition.
Can significant savings be achieved even with small batch sizes?
Yes. Through bundling effects across various projects, the optimisation of logistics processes, and the use of technical costing, double-digit savings potentials can often be realised even with low volumes.
How do you ensure the quality of new suppliers?
Every new supplier undergoes a stringent qualification process. We examine not only certifications but also technical capability and financial stability to guarantee the high quality standards in special vehicle construction.
How long does it take for purchase optimization to show initial results?
Initial quick wins – for example, through renegotiations or process streamlining – are often visible within 3 to 6 months. Strategic changes such as supplier changes or technical optimisations typically take full effect after 9 to 12 months.