introductions

In 1995 the import- and export trading company Schiefer Signaal & Speciaallampen BV (further Schiefer) was founded under the direction of Mr. Schiefer. Mr. Schiefer has 30 years of experience in the field of lighting. As a purchaser and product manager, he visited numerous factories throughout the world for years, and this knowledge and expertise have now been invested in a family business. The core business of Schiefer is supplying the widest possible range of light sources. Herewith the following mission is being operated:

"For every wish a made-to-measure lamp"

The mission translate itself into a number of goals that Schiefer pursues:

• "Supplying made-to-measure products"

Schiefer is able to supply specific as well as readily available lamps. We advise which type of lamp is best suited to which application. If possible, specific lamps will be designed or existing lamps will be changed by hand in order to fulfill the demands of the customer.

• "Carefully creating a customer profile in order to offer the best service"

From every customer relationship the requirement are always carefully mapped. This process enables Schiefer to respond to future enquiries with speed and accuracy. Within 24 hours orders can be processed and delivered.

• "Quality and service for a reasonable price"

After many years of invaluable experience invested in maintaining an extended network of good contacts with manufacturers, Schiefer is able to reap the benefits and ensure reliability of shipments.
A great deal of care is bestowed on ensuring the right quality for a reasonable price.

• "To stock a well worked out range"

To keep the right lamps in stock and maintain fast circulation is the basis of good stock control. A well worked out logistics process saves costs and translates itself into keener prices.

For more information about our main activities: sales and purchasing and our supporting activities: logistics, testing equipment and procedure, quality care systems and our product in general, click on the links at the top of this page.

MAIN ACTIVITIES

Sales

Schiefer is focused on the sale of light sources in all lines of business. Within the sector of industry, Schiefer has been building up a solid reputation since its foundation in 1995. The specialism of Schiefer is the supply of the most diverse lamps for all conceivable applications. However, Schiefer is particularly strong in the supply of very specific light sources. Also thanks to the extensive range of products and the expertise, the file of customers consists of direct users as well as wholesalers.

In order to serve the customers as well as possible, the specific demands of all customers are always carefully mapped. By giving extensive advice and being able to supply all conceivable light sources, Schiefer aims to perfect their service assistance. To support this, market research is continously done to maintain insight to the demands of the market.

Fifty percent of the turnover is obtained on the Dutch market. However, more and more attention is being paid to the possibilities outside the Netherlands. This is an area in which Schiefer is specialising further and amongst other projects, is aiming at the application area of defence parts.

Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM)-projects In order to meet the most diverse wishes of the customers, OEM-projects are undertaken. Using practical knowledge and expertise, Schiefer develops lamps in-house. Often lamps are designed for new machinery and applications for which no existing lamp is suitable. In consultation with the customer and possible manufacturors the best suited made-to-measure lamp is produced.

Purchasing

Good purchasing is the basis for good sales. Schiefer devotes close care to the relationships with the manufacturers. The range consists among others of brands like Osram, Sylvania, Philips, General Electric, Thorn and Dr. Fischer. This enumeration is not exhaustive. Within Europe there are several suppliers available for each brand. For this reason shipment can always be guaranteed and competitive prices be offered. A greater part of the range is imported from Japan, Korea and China. In these countries relatiationships have been established and maintained with manufacturers, often for more than 20 years. As a result of the time and effort invested in visiting these Far Eastern manufacturers, Schiefer is consistently able to offer the best quality at the best price.

Supporting Activities

Logistics

The logistic process, starting from purchase until shipment, deserves a lot of attention. Schiefer handles different ways and possibilities in order to give as good a service as possible. According to fixed procedures, the whole logistics route is executed in co-operation with regular transporters. In view of the immense importance of the good physical distribution of lamps, the logistics route is constantly evaluated. The established procedures are continuously tested and adjusted to guard the quality level and to maintain cost control. The logistics goal is to deliver the right products in the right quantities and with the right quality in the right place at the right time. The repackaging of the lamps ensures delivery of the right quantities. Schiefer offers the customers the option to use the "Just in Time" principle, so that at the right time products can be delivered. Due to efficient administration, knowledge of the wishes of the customer and well planned stockholding, orders can be shipped within 24-hours.


Marketing

Close attention is being paid to in-house documention developed by Schiefer using computer graphics. The general catalogue displays the basic range used by Schiefer. At the moment, a loose-leaf catalogue is being developed, "Lamps for Special Purposes" that shows all the specifications provided by Schiefer. In the near future, Schiefer will therefore be able to offer a made-to-measure catalogue including photo material to our customers. A specification diagram is always included together with quotations for special items. This detailed specification can be supplied for all Schiefer special lamps as well as standard light sources.


Testing Equipment and Procedure

High quality of the lamps is a demand that Schiefer imposes on all the shipments. Schiefer designs and makes various testing equipment in-house, with which almost every lamp can be tested. The test focuses attention on capacity (power), lightoutput, life and resistance to shock. With enquiries for new lamps at the factories, samples are initially provided for quality approval. The samples are intensively tested by Schiefer before the final order is given for production. When required, the customer can always examine these testing reports.


Quality Care Systems

ISO-standards

Since 2010 Schiefer is ISO 9001:2008 certified, but based on our in-house quality care system, which we have maintained since 1995. For the relevant departments, customer-critical processes are established and documented by Schiefer. This is in order to guarantee the mutual co-ordination, control, consistent quality and service. The processes are constantly being adapted to changing circumstances, with the aim of a optimal connection with the demands and wishes of the customer.
Regarding the finishing route, Schiefer has established fixed procedures as the in-house standard. These procedures are suited to Schiefer's working practices and environment as well as adhering to national fixed standards.
For product companies fixed rules and procedures are of course of great importance in order to guarantee consistent quality of the products. ISO-standards for factories are important and that is why Schiefer only buys products from European factories that do have a ISO-certificate. All suppliers outside Europe must comply with Schiefer's in-house "Quality Inspection Standards".

Quality Inspection Standards (QIS)

Schiefer ensures all suppliers from Asia produce and test according the QIS-standards.
For many lamps from Asia different qualities are produced. There is a standard quality based on the QIS that is based on the international standards. However, if a higher quality is required, together with the the factory and the customer, Schiefer will investigate if this is possible. This does not only concern the quality of the end product, but also differences in quality of the semi-manufactured products such as the glass bulb, the filament (different shapes are possible) and the base.
Besides the testing by the supplier, the incoming goods at Schiefer are once again random tested according the fixed procedures from the QIS. Should the quality be doubted, all lamps will be further tested one by one. When it appears that the manufacturer has not produced according to the instructions, a complaint report and a reclamation of the goods will follow. Where a shipment contains lamps of a very specific application, all lamps are always standard tested one by one. This concerns all orders where there is only a minimum deviation allowed in power (mA).
In these cases a report will almost always be made. When required, a copy of the report will be sent to the customer.

THE PRODUCT

The Product in General

The range of products of Schiefer consists of circa 10,000 types of lamps from which 2.5 million lamps are directly deliverable from stock. We can supply all conceivable lamps. In order to gain insight into the range, a small percentage of the stock held is detailed below. For a more complete list we refer to our enclosed catalogue Schiefer Signaal & Speciaallampen and the catalogue " Lamps for Special Purposes".

* Subminiature lamps * Signal lamps * Lamps with leads (wire-ended lamps) * Halogen lamps (conventional) * TL/fluorescention tubes * Car lamps / Forklift lamps * Hospital lamps / lamps for OK-armatures * Marine lamps / Navigation lamps * Flashlight lamps * Telephone lamps * LED's (multi-chip LED, star LED's and complete LED units) * Photo- and projection lamps * Traffic light lamps * Metal halogen lamps / high pressure natrium lamps * Optical lamps * Searchlight lamps * Train lamps * Christmas lamps * Standard lamps (GLS) and ball-lamps * Airfield lamps / aeroplane lamps * Microscope lamps etc.


Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM)-projects

In order to meet the most diverse requests for light sources, Schiefer develops lamps in-house; this is called OEM-projects. This concerns, for example, the designing of lamps for new machinery and applications for which no existing lamp is available. Also existing lamps can be adjusted in order to meet the exact specifications. By using expertise, product knowledge and good contacts, Schiefer is able to offer the best made-to-measure lamp.

The light sources are designed according to customer specifications. All information needed to have the required lamp produced, can be communicated in writing. When required, all specifications can also be determined by a personal interview. Subsequently these specifications are worked out graphically. After the design is ready, Schiefer will find the right manufacturer to take the design into production.


Finishing of Lamps

In order to render as high a level of service as possible, in-house finishing of lamps is carried out. In this way Schiefer is able to meet the most diverse wishes of the customers. Here, attention is being paid to flexibility and cost saving. The finishing consists of different handling procedures:


Coloured lamps

There is a regular demand for coloured signal lamps and other lamps that are not standard production. Monthly, Schiefer colours between 5,000 and 10,000 lamps. This means that, according to an in-house developed process, the lamps are being provided with transparent coloured layer.


Basing and assembling

Schiefer is specialised in the supply of small quantities and difficult to obtain lamps. To prevent large stocks of lamps, Schiefer has chosen to purchase lamps without bases and loose bases. In a specialy organised workshop, semi-manufactured products are finished into end products. This enables Schiefer to deliver very special lamps in small quantities at a reasonable price.


Repackaging

Most lamps are delivered in a large standard pack sizes. An extra service is being offered by repackaging the lamps into pack sizes as required by individual customers. Repackaging varies from high volumes to small volumes and/or a special packing that is provided from, for example, type numbers used by the customers. Wholesalers as well as end users use this service. For example, Electro Automatisering and Conelgro work with 10-pcs packing and their own type numbers and the Ministry of Defense requires certain information on each pack. This is done using special labels. Finally, Schiefer also develops special packing for customers using the Apple Macintosch with the customers own preferred design.

Research and Development
Market research is continuously being done into the developments and wishes of the market. At this moment close attention is being focused on the developments in the field of LED's. Led's consist of light emitting diodes and are used as a replacement for lamps. The benefit of LED's is that they, in comparison with existing lamps, have a very long life.

The developments are followed up by Schiefer immediately, and Schiefer is for that reason a forerunner in this segment of the market. Besides existing LED's, Schiefer offers a unique package of special LED's and LED-units which are developed in co-operation with some suppliers.