How a Good Neighbor Helped Solve a Customer Dilemma

Pictured in the D Beck Company Showroom and Training Center in Wrentham, Massachusetts are (l-to-r): Ian Beck and Jeff Aube.

During my spring industry career spanning more than 30 years, I have found there are fellow springmakers and suppliers who are willing to help out with advice, especially when your back is up against a wall.

By David DeVoe

Like many spring companies, we have expanded our business by earning new business from our current customers.

After initially earning a customer’s business, we find they become more aware of our capabilities and our commitment to quality, on-time delivery and service. This formula provides the foundation for a trusted and longterm relationship.

Recently one of our largest customers asked if Plymouth Spring could help with a project being undertaken through its newest division.

As we started investigating the project, we quickly realized we did not have the vision system equipment to properly measure the dimensions required to meet their specifications. Our customer was using a vision system from Optical Gaging Products (OGP) that utilizes SmartScope® SP systems, which are designed for optimum scanning probe performance.

Fortunately, I was able to get in touch with D Beck Company, a distributor that represents the OGP product line. Up to this point I had never heard of this company.

I quickly discovered that D Beck is a company that has been in business for more than 55 years and has a reputation as a trusted metrology resource for companies in New England. Because of their work with OGP, they are experts in matching their customer’s inspection requirements with the appropriate machine for the job.

When I spoke with Jeff Aube, the company’s Connecticut sales representative, he invited me to visit the company’s showroom and training center in Wrentham, Massachusetts. My nearly two-hour drive paid off and I was able to obtain the correct measurements for this project.

Without the help of Jeff and D Beck Company, I would not have been able to complete this job. This new business would have been left on the table for someone else to complete. While we have vision systems in use at Plymouth Spring, the cost of the OGP machine would have made it cost prohibitive for us to bid on this project.

In addition to OGP, the D Beck team also represents the full line of surface, form and roundness inspection machines from industry leader Zeiss. I also learned that D Beck Company services, calibrates, trains and programs, so their customers can feel confident that their inspection needs are met from purchase to service.

Good neighbors are often hard to come by, especially ones you don’t know! During my spring industry career spanning more than 30 years, I have found there are fellow springmakers and suppliers who are willing to help out with advice, especially when your back is up against a wall.

In keeping with the theme of this issue on “how to do things,” I would advise that if you don’t know how to do something or have the resources within your company: Don’t be afraid to ask! You might be surprised by the good neighbor who is ready to assist you. n