Future Serves Up FAI To SMEs

Future Electronics is now offering the services of its FAI Electronics division to medium-sized and developing electronics manufacturers in the UK and Eire as part of a global initiative.

These services include guaranteed stock availability, enhanced credit terms and expert technical support were generally only available to larger companies. Traditionally, broadline distributors have reserved world-class logistics services and sales support for manufacturers with materials requirements worth hundreds of thousands of pounds per year.

The introduction in the UK and Eire of FAI makes technical support and the advanced logistics capabilities of Future Electronics’ state-of-the-art EMEA Distribution Centre in Leipzig, Germany, available to a much wider range of electronics manufacturers than before. FAI customers will also have access to Future Electronics’ inventory of components from franchised suppliers.  

Chris McAneny, Business Development Director (EMEA) of Future Electronics, said: ‘There is a distinct gap in the market for FAI to fill. The acquisition strategy of publicly-owned distributors has not only consolidated the industry, thus reducing choice for customers, but also removed distributors which almost exclusively serviced mid-size and developing customers. Broadline distributors provide a very professional service, however their sales people has to be focused on the biggest customers.
‘FAI is going to offer big-company service but in tandem with the low order volumes required by medium-sized and emerging companies. And at the same time, with the power of Future Electronics behind us, we can offer competitive pricing to FAI customers along with access to inventory and easy to use product/applications information. All of these are key customer requirements either for design engineers working on new product introductions or manufacturers producing existing products, where forecasting volumes is difficult.’
Buying through FAI, medium size OEMs and CEMs will benefit from:  

* Guaranteed availability of stock – FAI will match a forecast of materials requirements with ‘bonded inventory’ for qualifying customers. In addition, all FAI customers benefit from the world-class inventory management practices of Future Electronics’ EMEA Distribution Centre, which aims to make the 100,000 most popular electronics components available for next-day delivery to any customer on any business day.
* Enhanced credit terms, subject to assessment of the customer’s credit rating and materials requirements.
* Local-language telephone technical support can be provided by electronics engineers for qualifying customers.
* Lower-than-standard minimum order quantities for orders placed online.
* A website, www.faielectronics.com, containing comprehensive product and sales information.