"We know we're in with Boeing...I thought this nex
Post# of 22940
Posted On: 02/25/2016 12:28:38 PM
"We know we're in with Boeing...I thought this next Boeing meeting was not quality, but about volume capabilities exclusively ?? Any one manufacturer could lock up TPAC with orders...( That's an Oh S##t moment for Bill...!!!), just hope he's creative enough to have planned ahead for that problem (?!!). "
ahhh - the ole "ahh sh1t" moment for a successful startup when they get orders faster than they can fulfill and things can go sideways...that is a VERY real issue.
however, if you go back and look at Bill's tweets addressing this issue - it is already factored in with respect to timeline to increase capacity, materials on hand, and equipment needed. he addresses it rather succinctly. biggest issues are the liners which are made in CA and where the real, proprietary issues are (in the manufacturing process mostly and to a lesser degree - the actual materials used). these are shipped to China for the mfg process completed in Donngan (sp?). they have already ramped up inventory of the liners in anticipation of increasing demand once they got to production phase.
with respect to NAVAIR certification, costs, and "where did the money go" - the cost to get NAVAIR certified goes well beyond fees and admin costs. one has to have the equipment, create the tooling, bring in raw materials, build the parts, test the parts, adjust accordingly, build more parts, test, etc, repeat. once the process has been verified and stipulated to create part finish and quality that is acceptable - THEN the NAVAIR process of certification begins. to suggest the $5-10K in admin fees listed as all there is in the process is ludicrous.
further, they had to build/finance the production facility in china and ramp up raw materials and liners to be ready when orders hit. he addressed this as well in the CC. one cant just say "yeah - give us a chance and we will bring everything in and complete the order". company has to be ready to meet the deadline and production demands on the FIRST order or there wont be follow up orders. that takes significant time and money to be ready for that first order. also is a helluva lot of risk as i mentioned in previous posts - it is the Kevin Costner "Field of Dreams" approach. you have to have the ballfield before the fans come. further, he build the ballfield so they quickly increase bleacher capacity if more fans want to come see the game.
ahhh - the ole "ahh sh1t" moment for a successful startup when they get orders faster than they can fulfill and things can go sideways...that is a VERY real issue.
however, if you go back and look at Bill's tweets addressing this issue - it is already factored in with respect to timeline to increase capacity, materials on hand, and equipment needed. he addresses it rather succinctly. biggest issues are the liners which are made in CA and where the real, proprietary issues are (in the manufacturing process mostly and to a lesser degree - the actual materials used). these are shipped to China for the mfg process completed in Donngan (sp?). they have already ramped up inventory of the liners in anticipation of increasing demand once they got to production phase.
with respect to NAVAIR certification, costs, and "where did the money go" - the cost to get NAVAIR certified goes well beyond fees and admin costs. one has to have the equipment, create the tooling, bring in raw materials, build the parts, test the parts, adjust accordingly, build more parts, test, etc, repeat. once the process has been verified and stipulated to create part finish and quality that is acceptable - THEN the NAVAIR process of certification begins. to suggest the $5-10K in admin fees listed as all there is in the process is ludicrous.
further, they had to build/finance the production facility in china and ramp up raw materials and liners to be ready when orders hit. he addressed this as well in the CC. one cant just say "yeah - give us a chance and we will bring everything in and complete the order". company has to be ready to meet the deadline and production demands on the FIRST order or there wont be follow up orders. that takes significant time and money to be ready for that first order. also is a helluva lot of risk as i mentioned in previous posts - it is the Kevin Costner "Field of Dreams" approach. you have to have the ballfield before the fans come. further, he build the ballfield so they quickly increase bleacher capacity if more fans want to come see the game.
(3)
(0)