Architectural powder coating projects, part 1: Supply chain management, the players and their roles and responsibilities
This article is the first in a series of articles targeting architectural powder coating of significant projects. Part 2 "Checks 'n' balances--engineering finishes that last" will be published in February 2010, and part 3 "Contract metal finishing--say what you do, do what you say, and be prepared to prove it!" will be published in March 2010.
For decades now, the powder coating industry has been tracking and targeting various marketing groups that include automotive, lawn and garden, appliance, lighting, general metals, and architectural among others. In the shadow of a very depressed automotive market and with the pressures of off-shore companies gobbling up high volume small part business in general, the manufacturing industry has focused its attention toward large architectural products that aren’t easily transported via plane, train, or automobile. The logistical considerations coupled with the desire to fill a growing US market need has captured the attention of powder coating manufacturers and applicators as they move forward in this sluggish economy with cautious optimism.