Streamlining AVL’s Product Line
As part of our strategic planning, we've been taking a hard look at how we operate and where we need to be heading. It is time to refocus on what we do best, and stop trying to be all things to all people. This includes ending products and services that are no longer viable or distract us from more valuable opportunities.
The coming changes will reinvigorate AVL and allow us to improve customer experiences. Every product we make requires production time, engineering & support effort, inventory and data/knowledge management. By terminating obsolete products we can:
- Improve quality and consistency on our remaining products
- Provide better support with a more focused team
- Increase on-time delivery
- Maintain stronger inventory levels of what you actually need
- Innovate more meaningfully in the areas where we excel
This week marked a significant milestone in this journey. We officially ended the production of three products: Industrial Dobby Loom (IDL), 3rd generation Jacquard loom (Jacq3G), and all wood framed Professional Dobby Rug Looms. These weren't easy decisions. We were proud of each as they represented innovation, craftsmanship, and unique customer benefits in their heyday.
This isn't the end of specific product line evolutions, by any means. For example, the all-steel framed rug loom was redesigned last year, which made it more compact and dramatically improved manufacturability. We decided to focus specifically on that unique product as it fulfills a special niche. Expect more changes to come as we continue refining our portfolio and launching new products. We're excited about AVL’s future, and we appreciate your continued partnership during this transition. As always, if you have questions or concerns, we're here to listen.
-Bob