Mitsubishi Materials UK selects Tooling Intelligence as vending partner
Published: | News: Cutting Tools
Cutting tool manufacturer MMC Hardmetal UK Ltd a sales company of Mitsubishi Materials has appointed Tooling Intelligence Ltd as its preferred inventory management and tool vending partner for the UK market. The agreement gives Mitsubishi Materials UK customers access to a fully independent, fully supported vending solution — and marks another milestone in the manufacturer's drive to build an added-value proposition that extends well beyond the products it puts in engineers' hands.
Over the past three years, Mitsubishi Materials UK has undergone a wide-ranging transformation that has reset its culture, team, values and how it presents itself to UK manufacturers. This vending agreement epitomises the service-led offering from Mitsubishi Materials UK. Jason Purcell, General Manager at Mitsubishi Materials UK, says: "We have gone through a huge transformational journey, and we are making customers aware of who we are and what we are able to offer them in terms of support. That is no longer just the products; it is the products and the services we provide."
That message is underpinned by what Mitsubishi Materials UK calls its circular economy. The company designs, manufactures, distributes, reconditions, remanufactures and recycles its tools entirely within its own value chain, providing a complete end to end service with nothing outsourced. This fully integrated approach enables Mitsubishi Materials UK to guarantee product supply while giving customers greater security and continuity. With carbide prices rising and supply tightening across the industry, this end-to-end control also helps reduce costs and deliver long term value for customers.
Jason adds: Cutting tools still account for only about 3% of a customer's cost base.) "The rest comprises other resources and costs, so the real opportunity is helping manufacturers across the shop floor to add value. Customers derive significant value from adopting a vending solution through their supplier, and that is exactly why we have this partnership."
Tooling Intelligence offers a wide range of inventory management solutions, including the SmartDrawer, Supply System, SmartBin, SupplyVend, SupplyBay and more. The independent solution, backed by hands-on expertise, enables Mitsubishi Materials UK and Tooling Intelligence to present the ideal solution for each customer. "Once we get to specifying a system, we take the product list to Tooling Intelligence, and they recommend a solution. They are the experts in this field," explains Jason.
Once installed, the SupplyPro software integrates with Mitsubishi Materials UK' ordering system and delivers reports tailored to different users. These include usage data for buyers, consumption details for engineers, and spend visibility for finance departments — with bespoke reporting available on request. Mitsubishi Materials UK continually reviews stock levels, enabling sales engineers to respond proactively to changing demand, while audits confirm accountability and stock accuracy once or twice a year.
"I have known Tooling Intelligence since 2007, so there was only one company I was going to work with, and that is Tooling Intelligence," he says. "It is the approachability of Richard and his team. You get what you ask for. It is a strong partnership, and it will certainly grow."
Richard Swaffield, Managing Director at Tooling Intelligence Ltd, adds: "Jason and his team have a clear vision for where they are taking the brand, and it is exciting to be part of it. Our role is to ensure every system is specified, installed and optimised to meet each customer's needs, precisely the kind of added value Mitsubishi Materials UK is building its offer around."
Both companies plan to extend the initiative, with Mitsubishi Materials UK already introducing Tooling Intelligence to its European vending programme.
www.mmc-carbide.com/gb
