Our supply chain department

Located in our manufacturing plant in Botevgrad, Bulgaria, our supply chain department within APS is responsible for the planning, sourcing, procurement, logistics, and inventory management of materials and components required for thermal printing systems and mechanisms. The department ensures supply continuity, quality compliance, cost effectiveness, traceability, and regulatory adherence across the end-to-end supply chain.

1. Supply chain governance & QMS integration

Supply chain operates within APS’s integrated management system, including:

Documented supply chain processes and controls.
Risk-based planning and supplier change management.
Lot traceability and record retention.
Alignment with customer, regulatory, and internal requirements.
Support for internal and external audits.

2. Strategic sourcing & supplier selection

The department manages supplier strategy and selection, including:

Supplier identification, evaluation, and approval.
Technical and quality requirement flow-down.
Contract and pricing management.
Dual-source strategies and risk-mitigation.
Lifecycle and obsolescence management.

Critical supply categories include thermal printheads, PCBs, motors, platen rollers, plastics, coatings, and electronic components.

3. Supplier quality & performance management

In coordination with quality, supply chain ensures:

Supplier performance monitoring (quality, delivery, cost).
On-time delivery and PPM tracking.
Supplier Corrective Action (SCAR) coordination.
Supplier audit support and follow-up.
Controlled implementation of supplier changes.

4. Planning, forecasting & inventory control

The department ensures material availability while controlling inventory through:

Demand forecasting and capacity planning.
MRP execution and order management.
Safety stock and buffer strategy definition.
Inventory accuracy and cycle counting.
Lead-time and service-level optimization.

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5. Incoming logistics & material control

Supply chain manages inbound material flow, including:

Transportation planning and logistics provider coordination.
Receipt, identification, and segregation of materials.
Lot-level traceability and documentation control.
Handling of nonconforming or suspect materials.
Coordination with inspection and warehousing teams.

6. Change, risk & business continuity management

The department manages supply-side risk through:

Supplier change notification and approval processes.
Risk assessments for new or alternate suppliers.
Business continuity and disaster recovery planning.
Monitoring of geopolitical, environmental, and market risks.
Escalation and mitigation planning for supply disruptions.

7. Environmental & sustainable supply chain

Supply chain supports environmental objectives by:

Supplier environmental compliance and monitoring.
Promotion of environmentally responsible sourcing.
Packaging optimization and waste reduction.
Transportation efficiency and emissions awareness.
Support for environmental reporting and improvement initiatives.

8. Data integrity, systems & continuous improvement

The department ensures operational excellence through:

Accurate and controlled ERP and supply chain data.
KPI monitoring and performance reporting.
Continuous improvement using Lean and PDCA methodologies.
Training and competence development.
Cross-functional collaboration with engineering, quality, and manufacturing.