Quality Bearings- Quick Turnaround- Military Needs

Case Study - Guam Shipyard

Background: Client

For more than five years, Emerson Bearing has received weekly, sometimes daily, telephone calls and emails from Guam Shipyard, located in Santa Rita, Guam, about bearings and related products.

Joseph Palomo, Planner & Estimator for Guam Shipyard, a large industrial contractor for the U.S. Navy, is in charge of ordering all parts and equipment for a variety of vessels that sail into their port. After obtaining a repair contract for a vessel, both Palomo and Emerson Bearing are well aware of the time constraints of the job and penalties that will be incurred if the vessel is not ready to sail by a certain date. It's imperative that all the parts (pumps, electric motors, bearings, oil seals, etc.) have arrived and are ready for the vessel's maintenance or repair as soon as it pulls into port.

From vessels such as the USS Frank Cable to USCG Vessels to USNS T-AKE's, T-AOE's, T-AFS's, T-AE's, T-AKE's, T-ARS, T-AGOS's, YC's, YON's, GSY Dry Dock AFDB-8, miscellaneous U.S. Subs and numerous other private vessels, Emerson Bearing meets the maintenance and repair needs for all.

Emerson Solution:

Emerson Bearing's quality products, quick turnaround on RFQ's and their overall reliability in having the right product in stock coupled with their ability to get it to Guam quickly are the key reasons that Guam Shipyard has chosen (and continues to choose) Emerson Bearing over all other bearing companies.

According to Maryann Quintal who is in charge of the Guam account, "We are halfway around the world and Guam Shipyard knows they can count on us. They have placed their confidence in us and we deliver, whether it's a large job or a small repair where they may just need oil seals. Ninety-nine percent of the time, Guam Shipyard will place their order with us."

An average cost per order ranges from $30 to $12,000, depending on what the vessel in Guam's port needs. Small parts are sent by mail whereas large, steel mounted parts are sent via ship.

Guam Shipyard very rarely needs parts expedited but what they do require is honesty with regard to delivery dates. Emerson Bearing knows that one of the reasons that Guam Shipyard continues to purchase from them repeatedly is their accuracy on promised delivery dates. Quintal noted, "We never overpromise. Timing is everything for Guam Shipyard. The vessels are scheduled to arrive in port at a certain time and once they pull in, the clock starts. Everything runs on a schedule and there are repercussions for any delays."

According to Palomo, what really sets Emerson apart from their competitors is their dependability. They've never had to worry about lead time delivery and wrong materials received. In fact, Palermo can cite many instances where Emerson Bearing has really stood apart from their competitors and gone "above and beyond" to serve them. Guam Shipyard required miscellaneous bearings and mechanical seals for several jobs (i.e. T-AFS's Ship's unrep equipment, USS Frank Cable 30 ton crane bearings and seals and many other jobs) that were dependent on the right bearings and seals.

Bottom line? Quintal noted, "When you're talking to someone halfway around the world, you need good communication and realistic timeframes." Efficient, cost-effective and reliable, Emerson Bearing delivers on all fronts.