Key Activities
[Key Activities]: Fuel Fiji - Supply Chain - July 2018
The current, immediate future and long term supply chains for the Buka Stoves in Fiji are as follows:
CURRENT SUPPLY CHAIN
- SOURCING MATERIALS: Lincoln Refrigeration Limited (LRL) provides used refrigerant tanks, up to a limit of around 100 per month. The other materials, flat bar for the legs, pop rivets, zincalume steel and grating are bought from Vinod Patel in Sigatoka.
- TRANSPORTATION: PEV transports the refrigerant tanks from LRL in Suva and return to Sigatoka and buys the rest of the material from Vinod Patel in Sigatoka.
- MANUFACTURING: AK Mechanical Garage, Right Solutions Fiji Pte Ltd manufactures Buka 4.0 stoves in his workshop. PEV pays him in cash.
- BRANDING AND USER GUIDE ADDITION: PEV spray paints the stoves black and brands them in white using heat and corrosion resistant paint from Multiline Distributors Ltd. PEV prints off User Manual and attaches it to the stove.
- TRANSPORTATION: PEV transports the stoves back to project houses.
IMMEDIATE FUTURE SUPPLY CHAIN
- SOURCING MATERIALS: LRL provides used refrigerant tanks, up to a limit of around 100 per month, as well as stainless steel for the interior of the stove, galvanized steel for the exterior of the stove and grating.
- TRANSPORTATION: Materials stay at LRL.
- MANUFACTURING: LRL manufactures Buka 4.0 and 5.0 in their workshops, providing all consumables like rivets. PEV pay them in cash.
- BRANDING AND USER GUIDE ADDITION: LRL spray paints the stoves black and brands them in white using heat and corrosion resistant paint from Multiline Distributors Ltd provided by PEV. PEV prints off the User Manual and provides it to LRL, who attach it to the stoves.
- TRANSPORTATION: RB Patel pick the stoves up from LRL and distribute them between their stores.
LONG TERM SUPPLY CHAIN
- SOURCING MATERIALS: Materials are imported from a country that manufactures steel
- TRANSPORTATION: Stoves are collected and transported to LRL.
- MANUFACTURING: LRL manufactures Buka 5.0 in their workshops, providing all consumables like rivets. PEV pay them in cash.
- BRANDING AND USER GUIDE ADDITION: LRL spray paints the stoves black and brands them in white using heat and corrosion resistant paint from Multiline Distributors Ltd provided by PEV. PEV prints off the User Manual and provides it to LRL, who attach it to the stoves.
- TRANSPORTATION: A network of local carriers transport stoves to various hardware stores or villages.
KEY QUESTIONS
- How can we remove the middle man and import materials from a country that manufactures steel, whilst adhering to ethical standards?
- What are the costs associated with importing material?
- At what scale is it beneficial to buy a minimum order of 500+kg of steel from overseas?
- What legalities need to be sorted before we can import our own material?
- How can we transport the materials from the port to our manufacturer?
- How can we reliably transport manufactured stoves to our distributor?
- How should we invoice and collect payment from our multiple distributors?
- How will this vary between a village chief and a store with multiple locations around Fiji?
Would love to hear your thoughts, concerns and suggestions regarding the Buka Stove supply chain here in Fiji!
Tagged users
Cris Birzer 6 months ago
One of the original reasons we suggested clay was the local availability and sustainability of it (plus thermal properties). I still think it addresses most/all of your supply chain issues, potentially reduces cost, and opens an avenue of different products to be developed.
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Andrew Vild 6 months ago
Status label added: Key Activities
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