as possible without compromising quality. Several measures were introduced for this purpose: Boosting stock The first and most obvious step was to stock up on all components and spare parts. We had a considerable advantage over many other companies in this respect, as we have longstanding partnerships with our electronic component distributors and often work directly with manufacturers. In addition, we procure a significant amount of our mechanical components and accessories from regional manufacturers, which to some extent limited the effect of global bottlenecks and transport problems. We bought unavailable components from our distributors if they had delivery times that were too long for us in other buying markets, sometimes at much higher prices. These components underwent intensive quality testing before being used in series production, helping us remain in a position to supply our products. At the same time, we invested in 21,000 m2 (226,042.12 ft²) of additional warehousing space to create more storage capacity. Order-specific needs assessment However, despite increasing stock levels, even we could not avoid all the bottlenecks, which occasionally required us to modify delivery times and assess and prioritize orders. The Shortfall Panel developed a process that enabled us to work on special orders with a higher priority, such as emergencies following natural disasters or for system-relevant applications. Seamless, transparent communication Communication with our customers and sales partners regarding delivery times was just as crucial. Remaining in close contact with them enabled us to understand and respond to their individual needs and manage their expectations. This made it possible to provide realistic delivery estimates and keep our promises. Long-term supply security In addition to drastically shortening delivery times, we also wanted to minimize potential long-term delay issues. To this end, we analyzed and optimized production processes. A dedicated team was assigned the task of looking for alternatives for components that were difficult to get hold of and proactively reworking our products, making it possible for us to use different components while achieving the same level of quality and functionality. More standard components found their way into our products, which should ensure availability even in the event of challenging market situations. Successfully normalizing deliverytimes Thanks to the joint effort of all the teams involved and significant investments in both time and money, delivery times have been steadily reduced, and over 95% of our products are now delivered within the pre-crisis time frame of four weeks or less. 28
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