Since the first confirmed Swiss coronavirus case on 24 February 2020, a professional and functioning supply chain has become increasingly important and was quickly classified as critical to success. We are proud of our slogan "World of Relays" and do everything we can to offer our valued customers a broad and specialised product portfolio with over 5,000 active sales products.
The shortage of semiconductors reported in the media poses major challenges for many companies across all industries. Our sales products are made up of several semi-finished products, which in turn consist of a large number of components. Just one missing component jeopardises the manufacture of a sales product. We have not been spared bad news and material shortages. However, the ability to react quickly to changing circumstances is and was the decisive factor. In retrospect, the great innovative strength and agility of the SMEs based in Worb played a key role in enabling us to benefit from the crisis. The ComatReleco AG workforce came closer together to find solutions. Specifically, a number of redesigns were implemented in record time, procurement parameters were adjusted, new procurement tools were introduced for an improved overview and systematic monitoring control, and dialogue with all production plants was intensified. As a preventative measure, safety stocks of critical parts and components were increased in order to keep production running. External transport logistics also had an impact on our supply chain. Meeting customer delivery deadlines has been prioritised since the beginning and has led to many goods being moved by plane instead of ship. Maintaining profitability naturally plays a central role in guaranteeing a high level of service in the long term.
We are optimistic about the future and look forward to utilising the experience we have gained over the past two years to the benefit of our customers. I hope you enjoy reading this report.
Silvan Benedikt Meier, COO