Carl Froehlich
Well Known Member
No one asked me, but….
I can clearly understand the productivy gains available to Van’s by standardizing kits. Just the poor soles doing the shipping crates will have a much easier job of putting together these jigsaw puzzles.
But, this leaves a lot of builders now deciding to do a build that does not meet their objectives, or getting the full kit and then selling the parts they don’t want to use. If Van’s true objective is to standardize kits, then they could explore the miles of data they have on what standard parts some customers choose not use and created a formal list of kit options. Here the existing part provider would contract with Van’s to have them on the shelf with it comes time to package up kits. The kits would meet the objectives of standardization, Van’s would get a cut on the part cost, and the customer gets what they want.
This would not be a long list. Some examples off the top of my head include:
- Matco upgraded RV-10 brakes
- SkyDesigns RV-8 aluminum gear legs
- Cowl options to include current stock cowl, James Cowl and Showplanes Cowl
- On Firewall Forward kit options such as B&C alternator and PCU5000X Governor and any of the current Oil Coolers offered by Van’s
Carl
I can clearly understand the productivy gains available to Van’s by standardizing kits. Just the poor soles doing the shipping crates will have a much easier job of putting together these jigsaw puzzles.
But, this leaves a lot of builders now deciding to do a build that does not meet their objectives, or getting the full kit and then selling the parts they don’t want to use. If Van’s true objective is to standardize kits, then they could explore the miles of data they have on what standard parts some customers choose not use and created a formal list of kit options. Here the existing part provider would contract with Van’s to have them on the shelf with it comes time to package up kits. The kits would meet the objectives of standardization, Van’s would get a cut on the part cost, and the customer gets what they want.
This would not be a long list. Some examples off the top of my head include:
- Matco upgraded RV-10 brakes
- SkyDesigns RV-8 aluminum gear legs
- Cowl options to include current stock cowl, James Cowl and Showplanes Cowl
- On Firewall Forward kit options such as B&C alternator and PCU5000X Governor and any of the current Oil Coolers offered by Van’s
Carl