Firstex Industries

STATEMENT OF SERVICES

Total Project Management

Firstex Industries offers many advantages. Our Total Project Management assures efficient coordination of all facets of the procurement program from design to delivery. Whether managing an existing ongoing program utilizing a source already selected by the client or working together with a client to develop sources for a new project, Firstex Industries professionals located throughout the Pacific Rim work together closely to assure your satisfaction.

Vendor Survey

Firstex Industries conducts vendor surveys to identify, review and analyze potential manufacturers and suppliers. Our research encompasses not only those manufacturers who are currently producing similar product or product within the same category, but also manufacturers whose potential capabilities (based on their equipment and background) indicate an ability to meet your requirements. Vendor surveys include review of the manufacturer's current production capability, his manufacturing facilities, equipment, financial strength as well as his management (staff and operational).

Review of Product

There are limits to industrial and manufacturing capability at a competitive level in every region. Therefore, it is necessary to make a preliminary evaluation of each product or product line to help determine the feasibility manufacturing your requirements in Taiwan, Hong Kong, China, Korea, The Philippine, Thailand, Indonesia and India. When we feel that a product or product line does not lend itself to competitive production in our sphere of activity, we shall advise you accordingly.

Negotiations

Negotiations are conducted on a bi-level basis, with initial stages often conducted by line staff and final negotiations by senior members. Generally, such negotiations are based on an "open book" basis, where, because of our relationship with the manufacturers, their own pricing analysis is reviewed jointly with us on a step-by-step basis. This includes a breakout of the component parts they purchase, coupled with our efforts to reduce these costs by suggesting alternative sources and/or alternative components. For those component parts which are not readily available to the manufacturers, we work to help locate the sources and, in some cases, also negotiate the prices.

Engineering Support

Electronic and mechanical engineers provide staff support for those items requiring their talents. Our staff of engineers are fully conversant with production processes related to operations in their areas of expertise and their presence in the factories provides continual support during production.

Communication

From experience gained over forty years of international operations, we fully appreciate the critical nature of communications. Whether pertaining to shipping, negotiations, engineering, quality control and reporting, or production schedules, the information is of little value unless communicated properly. Communication by letter, telephone, telex or fax is critical when business is conducted over an expanse of many thousands of miles and differences in language and customs can lead to misunderstandings.

Quality Control

We understand the requirement not only for final audit inspection but also for the necessity to have, on a continuing basis, a presence in the factory during production. For major projects where we are heavily committed to individual factories, we maintain a staff of inspectors who are permanently based in a specific factory and have responsibilities for 'on-line' inspection. Their presence in the factory is daily during the production run.

Supporting Staff

Our export traffic department is responsible not only for scheduling shipments but also for maintaining updated schedules that are used by our own staff and principals. They also monitor shipping and open order status. We review not only the available sailings but also changes in the freight rates. We work to obtain any available cost advantages by utilizing different lines or, if available, changes in the product classification or tariff.

Finally, we offer a staff that understands how to operate and function in the Far East and Senior Management that understands and recognizes what is necessary to support a successful operation in the United States and overseas. Our presence in the Far East is to provide you with services composed of product, pricing, quality and delivery. We welcome your inquiry