This document summarizes Hank Estep's summer 2015 internship at FN America, LLC. It describes his work in the purchasing department procuring parts and finding suppliers. Specific projects included requesting quotes for the SCAR 16 and 17 rifles and the MAG 58 parts. Hank also worked on packaging projects and put non-disclosure agreements in place with suppliers. He had to problem solve issues with suppliers and learn new systems. The summary provides an overview of Hank's responsibilities and accomplishments during his internship.
Understanding the Bid and RFP Process to Win ContractsDebbie Ouellet
Ever wondered what's involved in responding to RFPs (Requests for Proposals), RFQs (Requests for Quotes) and RFIs (Requests for Information) to bid on and win contracts? This helpful guides help you understand the bid process and where to go to look for bids in Canada.
Find out more at www.echelonone.ca.
Understanding the Bid and RFP Process to Win ContractsDebbie Ouellet
Ever wondered what's involved in responding to RFPs (Requests for Proposals), RFQs (Requests for Quotes) and RFIs (Requests for Information) to bid on and win contracts? This helpful guides help you understand the bid process and where to go to look for bids in Canada.
Find out more at www.echelonone.ca.
In this deck from the HPC Knowledge Portal Meeting, Ingrid Barcena from KU Leuven presents: <em>Buying for Tomorrow: HPC Systems Procurement Matters</em>.
One of the biggest challenges when procuring High Performance Computing systems is to ensure that not only a faster machine than the previous one is bought but that the new system is well suited for the organization needs, fit within a limited budget and prove value for money. However, this is not a simple task and failing on buying the right HPC system can have tremendous consequences for an organization.
The acquisition of HPC systems is a complex and time consuming process where different people inside and outside the organization are involved, from legal, management and technical departments to end user's and suppliers. Typically a HPC procurement can take between 1 and 2 years from the initiation of the project to the start of the system on production and in most cases the following steps are needed: search for funding, gather the needs of the users, decide the system requirements, start the purchase procedure, order the system and install it. During this time, the organization and user's needs and requirements can evolve and also do change technologies adding even more complexity and uncertainty to the process.
This talk will provide to the attendees an overview of the whole purchasing HPC system and the different challenges that need to be addressed. The presenter experience and lessons learned after having actively participated in more than 15 HPC purchase procedures of different sizes in the last 20 years will be presented.
Watch the video: https://wp.me/p3RLHQ-i3k
Learn more: http://www.hpckp.org/i
Sign up for our insideHPC Newsletter: http://insidehpc.com/newsletter
Historically, sourcing optimization meant laying out the right rules and combing through 28,677 lines of code in order to run a scenario for one single event. This isn’t efficient nor useful for informing negotiation--the most powerful lever that sourcing can pull. After many conversations with our customers (and many late nights), we set out to build something with the user in mind. How do usability and adoption translate to powerful negotiation and faster decision making? Join us for this innovative product reveal, as Chris Crane, Head of Product at Scout RFP and Jason Waller, solutions manager at McKinsey, walk you through [Scout Optimization] in action. (Mathematics Ph.D. not required, we promise.)
Historically, sourcing optimization meant laying out the right rules and combing through 28,677 lines of code in order to run a scenario for one single event. This isn’t efficient nor useful for informing negotiation--the most powerful lever that sourcing can pull. After many conversations with our customers (and many late nights), we set out to build something with the user in mind. How do usability and adoption translate to powerful negotiation and faster decision making? Join us for this innovative product reveal, as Chris Crane, Head of Product at Scout RFP and Jason Waller, solutions manager at McKinsey, walk you through [Scout Optimization] in action. (Mathematics Ph.D. not required, we promise.)
Avoiding Environmental Acquisition Landmines Antea Group
Antea Group presented at the recent SIGMA Maintenance Environmental & Safety Share Group on potential pitfalls during environmental acquisitions, how to avoid them, and evaluating and quantifying liabilities.
In this deck from the HPC Knowledge Portal Meeting, Ingrid Barcena from KU Leuven presents: <em>Buying for Tomorrow: HPC Systems Procurement Matters</em>.
One of the biggest challenges when procuring High Performance Computing systems is to ensure that not only a faster machine than the previous one is bought but that the new system is well suited for the organization needs, fit within a limited budget and prove value for money. However, this is not a simple task and failing on buying the right HPC system can have tremendous consequences for an organization.
The acquisition of HPC systems is a complex and time consuming process where different people inside and outside the organization are involved, from legal, management and technical departments to end user's and suppliers. Typically a HPC procurement can take between 1 and 2 years from the initiation of the project to the start of the system on production and in most cases the following steps are needed: search for funding, gather the needs of the users, decide the system requirements, start the purchase procedure, order the system and install it. During this time, the organization and user's needs and requirements can evolve and also do change technologies adding even more complexity and uncertainty to the process.
This talk will provide to the attendees an overview of the whole purchasing HPC system and the different challenges that need to be addressed. The presenter experience and lessons learned after having actively participated in more than 15 HPC purchase procedures of different sizes in the last 20 years will be presented.
Watch the video: https://wp.me/p3RLHQ-i3k
Learn more: http://www.hpckp.org/i
Sign up for our insideHPC Newsletter: http://insidehpc.com/newsletter
Historically, sourcing optimization meant laying out the right rules and combing through 28,677 lines of code in order to run a scenario for one single event. This isn’t efficient nor useful for informing negotiation--the most powerful lever that sourcing can pull. After many conversations with our customers (and many late nights), we set out to build something with the user in mind. How do usability and adoption translate to powerful negotiation and faster decision making? Join us for this innovative product reveal, as Chris Crane, Head of Product at Scout RFP and Jason Waller, solutions manager at McKinsey, walk you through [Scout Optimization] in action. (Mathematics Ph.D. not required, we promise.)
Historically, sourcing optimization meant laying out the right rules and combing through 28,677 lines of code in order to run a scenario for one single event. This isn’t efficient nor useful for informing negotiation--the most powerful lever that sourcing can pull. After many conversations with our customers (and many late nights), we set out to build something with the user in mind. How do usability and adoption translate to powerful negotiation and faster decision making? Join us for this innovative product reveal, as Chris Crane, Head of Product at Scout RFP and Jason Waller, solutions manager at McKinsey, walk you through [Scout Optimization] in action. (Mathematics Ph.D. not required, we promise.)
Avoiding Environmental Acquisition Landmines Antea Group
Antea Group presented at the recent SIGMA Maintenance Environmental & Safety Share Group on potential pitfalls during environmental acquisitions, how to avoid them, and evaluating and quantifying liabilities.
1. FN America, LLC. Proprietary Information
Summer 2015 Internship
Hank Estep
August 6, 2015
2. FN America, LLC. Proprietary Information
Purchasing at FNH USA
• The purchasing department works to procure parts,
materials, and packaging and find the best
suppliers and prices.
• The purchasing department tracks inventory and
shortages through the QAD system
• Receiving parts, materials, and packaging on time is
an integral part of the manufacturing of FN
weapons
3. FN America, LLC. Proprietary Information
SCAR Project
• Requested and received quotes for entire bill of
materials for the SCAR 16 and SCAR 17
• Began quote evaluation progress on SCAR 16 and
SCAR 17
• Answered supplier questions regarding prints,
materials, and processes
• Pulled prints and 3D files from Herstal PDS system
• Put non-disclosure agreements in place for SCAR
suppliers
4. FN America, LLC. Proprietary Information
MAG 58 Project
• Requested quotes for MAG 58 parts
• Pulled MAG 58 prints and gage prints from Herstal PDS
• Pulled MAG 58 3D files from Herstal PDS
• Put non-disclosure agreements in place for MAG 58
domestic suppliers
5. FN America, LLC. Proprietary Information
Packaging
• Put non-disclosure agreements in place for several
packaging suppliers
• Requested quotes for several packaging products,
including VCI wraps and SCAR and FN 15 packaging
6. FN America, LLC. Proprietary Information
Problem-Solving
• Supplier Issues
– I had to help suppliers understand prints when I had no
prior knowledge of the prints or the French translations
– I had to be resourceful by asking coworkers and finding
materials on PDS
– Met with suppliers face-to-face to alleviate issues
• Using QAD and PDS
– I had to learn to use each of these systems by using trial
and error and asking coworkers for help. By the end of
my internship I had a good understanding of how to use
both QAD and PDS.
7. FN America, LLC. Proprietary Information
Communication
• With suppliers
– Explaining prints and translations.
– We often had trouble seeing eye-to-eye so I had
to view things from their perspective.
• With co-workers
– Early on I had trouble fully grasping my role, so I
had to make my viewpoint clear and explain the
issues I had.
8. FN America, LLC. Proprietary Information
Decision Making
• Gathering information
– Example: which suppliers to contact, print
translations, material conversions,
understanding bills of material
• Weighing options
– Working with suppliers that were totally
ignorant of FN processes
9. FN America, LLC. Proprietary Information
Failures
• Miscommunication with suppliers
– Quoting incorrect parts
– Sending requests for quotes to incorrect
suppliers
– Not finding answers to supplier questions
• Not maximizing opportunity
– At some points I wasn’t as productive as I could
have been
10. FN America, LLC. Proprietary Information
Successes
• Gained understanding of QAD and PDS
• Quoted entire BOM for SCAR 16 and 17
• Pulled prints and gage files for MAG 58