02/09/2020 - The only way we can catch up...

Following lockdown we have the biggest backlog of orders that we have ever had and it has sadly got to the point when our lead times are (in the eyes of many customers) unacceptable.

Since production reopened on Monday June 8th we have been working hard to try and reduce our lead times and although we are starting to get back on top of everything, our lead times remain around 8 to 12 weeks.

The only way that we can reduce our lead times is if I (Andy) get considerably more time in the workshops (to help out Jack & John) than I’m getting at the moment and regrettably, the only way that I can get sufficient time in the workshop is if we close the office.

Reluctantly, this means that our office will now be closed until our lead times (across our standard product ranges) are down to around 4 to 6 weeks.

This decision has been made with you (our customers) in mind, as we are receiving an extremely high number of emails and phone calls on a daily basis from customers, chasing up orders. Please be rest assured that we are doing everything we can to adapt to the current situation - or in other words, coming up with our “new normal”.

Quite simply, we do not have the resources (we are a small team of 3), to continue to operate as normal (pre Covid-19 normal) and also reduce our lead times. Just to let you know, a 4 to 6 week lead time is normal for us (pre Covid-19 normal) and it is an acceptable lead time that keeps our customers happy.

We obviously need to reduce our lead times and we do not see any other way of being able to reduce them, without closing the office - as this is the only way we can get more hours (my time), each week in the workshops, manufacturing and dispatching orders.

We accept that closing the office is a drastic measure and we accept that not everyone will be happy about it. However, we don’t see any alternative if you (our customers) are unable to accept our current lead times as our “new normal” (if we don’t get them down, 8 to 12 weeks will be our “new normal” forever).

I would like to say thank you to the majority, who have been (and remain) accepting of the current situation.

Moving forward, until we reopen the office:

• Emails will be responded to once a week (I will likely empty the inbox every Monday afternoon).
• Answer phone messages will be responded to if considered urgent, daily.
• Alternatively, we will respond to non-urgent answer phone messages once a week (again, likely on a Monday afternoon).
• If we need to contact you (about a current order), we still will (so please do not worry about that).

Have a great day.

Kind regards,
Andy & the Optimise Automotive team