Exploring the Benefits of Buying Welding Supplies Online vs. In-Store with nexAir
In the last decade, e-commerce platforms have taken the world by storm, allowing consumers to purchase high-quality products without ever leaving their homes.
Things are no different in the world of welding supplies — with online stores enabling workshops to place and receive orders with a few clicks of a button.
One of the best examples is nexAir NOW — a new platform that offers cutting-edge welding supplies and equipment to professionals across the country. Is it better than shopping in-store? In this guide we’ll compare the traditional and modern solutions.
Benefits of Shopping In-Store
Many professionals prefer to buy welding supplies at a store — simply because it’s what they are used to. And certainly, there are some benefits to this. Shopping in person allows you to build relationships with a local distributor, access discounts and combo-deals, trial new equipment, and assess all your options under one roof.
On the other hand, it can be time-consuming — and isn’t especially ideal for repeat orders, or to buy consumables you need on a daily basis. From finding the right store to locating the ideal equipment to standing in line to pay, you could spend hours away from your workspace, seriously hurting productivity.
With that said, at nexAir, we have eased the process of shopping in-store significantly. On our website you’ll find a convenient location finder to guide you to a store. Simply enter your ZIP code, city or state to get access to the exact address and location.
Moreover, we are also available over the phone on 888-639-2474. Don’t hesitate to give us a call for more information. Once you arrive at a store, a valued member of our team will help you tailor a solution as per your needs.
Benefits of Shopping Online on nexAir NOW
Over the last year, we’re proud to have launched nexAir NOW — an online platform that streamlines the process of ordering crucial welding supplies. But this isn’t just any e-commerce site, it’s a shopping assistant that keeps track of prior orders, makes smart recommendations, and conveniently stores all billing and purchase information.
The benefits of using nexAir NOW, thus, extend far beyond merely convenience. Instead it helps professionals in several other ways:
- Tracking Inventory: Clients who sign into our platform gain unparalleled real-time visibility into their supplies and usage patterns. This helps you make smarter purchases and save on unnecessary costs.
- Fast Filtering: Finding products has never been easier courtesy our detailed descriptions and filtering functionalities. From advanced welding equipment, to premium accessories, to safety gear, you’ll find it all with a simple search.
- Custom Orders: nexAir account holders can place quick orders, create comprehensive lists, and order parts in various quantities — allowing for the same levels of flexibility you would get working with an in-store executive.
- Detailed Descriptions: The nexAir team leverages decades of experience and KnowHow to offer detailed descriptions of each product — along with its various applications and limitations.
- Fast Shipping: We understand that even small amounts of downtime could cripple an organization. That’s why we offer quick and reliable shipping services that ensure you get the right order at the right time and in the right place.
Enjoy the Best of Both Worlds With nexAir
At nexAir, we offer the best of both worlds. Our distribution centers are spread out across dozens of locations in the Southeast, making it convenient for professionals to stop by for a quick purchase.
On the other hand, the nexAir NOW platform leverages the latest advances in technology to offer a seamless ordering and delivery experience — and does away with all the time spent physically travelling to a store. To experience these benefits — and learn how we can help you Forge Forward — visit nexAir NOW today.
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Manufacturing downtime costs American companies billions annually. When production lines halt due to gas supply issues, every minute translates to lost revenue, missed deadlines, and frustrated customers. At nexAir, we've spent decades developing solutions that keep manufacturing operations running smoothly.
The Hidden Costs of Gas-Related Downtime
When manufacturers calculate downtime costs, they typically focus on labor and lost production. However, gas supply disruptions create cascading effects that multiply these losses:
- Production rescheduling that disrupts carefully optimized sequences
- Rush shipping fees to meet customer deadlines despite delays
- Quality inconsistencies when processes restart after interruptions
- Overtime costs to catch up after unplanned stoppages
- Reputation damage when delivery commitments are missed
For a typical mid-sized manufacturer, each hour of downtime represents $5,000-$10,000 in direct and indirect costs. Our analysis shows that gas-related issues cause 7-12% of total manufacturing downtime - a substantial opportunity for improvement.
From Reactive to Proactive: The Supply Continuum
Most facilities follow a predictable pattern in their gas management evolution:
Stage 1: Reactive Management At this stage, facilities order gas when they notice supplies running low or, worse, after running out. Emergencies are common, and disruptions are accepted as "part of doing business." One automotive parts supplier operating this way experienced 14 production interruptions in a single quarter.
Stage 2: Calendar-Based Management Facilities advance to scheduled deliveries based on estimated usage. While better than the reactive approach, this method still results in either excess inventory (tying up capital and space) or shortages when usage spikes occur. A plastics manufacturer following this model maintained 40% more cylinder inventory than necessary while still experiencing occasional stockouts.
Stage 3: Consumption-Based Management Our telemetry systems monitor actual gas consumption, automatically triggering orders based on usage patterns rather than calendar dates. This approach virtually eliminates both stockouts and excess inventory.
Stage 4: Integrated Supply Management The most advanced approach connects gas management directly to production planning systems. Upcoming production requirements automatically adjust supply parameters, ensuring resources are precisely aligned with needs. A medical device manufacturer using this approach reports zero gas-related downtime for 27 consecutive months while operating with minimal inventory buffers.
Our expert KnowHow™ in industrial gas applications allows us to guide customers through this evolution at a pace that makes sense for their operations.
Customizing Solutions for Maximum Uptime
Manufacturing environments vary dramatically in their gas requirements and operational constraints. We've developed flexible approaches that address these differences:
- For high-volume, consistent usage operations, our bulk systems eliminate the cylinder handling that frequently causes supply disruptions. Bulk installations include telemetry monitoring and automated ordering to prevent outages.
- For variable-demand environments, our microbulk delivery systems provide the benefits of bulk supply with lower volume commitments. These systems reduce handling requirements while maintaining the flexibility needed for changing production schedules.
- For specialized applications requiring multiple gas types, our gas management programs combine cylinder tracking, usage monitoring, and automated replenishment. This comprehensive approach ensures that specialty gases are always available when needed, regardless of how infrequently they might be used.
- For multi-site operations, our enterprise supply programs coordinate deliveries and optimize inventory across locations. By treating the organization's gas requirements holistically, we minimize both stockouts and excess inventory across the network.
This consultative approach ensures that manufacturers receive solutions aligned with their specific operational patterns rather than generic "one-size-fits-all" systems.
Beyond Traditional Supply: Integrated Services for Total Reliability
Maximum uptime requires more than just reliable gas delivery. Our integrated services address the full spectrum of gas-related reliability factors:
Equipment maintenance programs that prevent system failures before they impact production Technical gas specialists who resolve application issues that could otherwise cause production problems Safety training that prevents accidents leading to downtime events Emergency response capabilities that minimize impacts when unexpected events occur Supply chain redundancy that ensures continuity despite regional disruptions
These services complement our supply solutions to form a comprehensive reliability strategy. By addressing both everyday operations and exceptional circumstances, we help manufacturers Forge Forward with confidence that gas-related disruptions won't derail their production targets.
Measuring Success: The Results That Matter
The ultimate measure of any downtime reduction strategy is its impact on production metrics. Our manufacturing customers consistently report significant improvements after implementing our comprehensive gas management solutions:
Downtime reductions of 85-95% for gas-related issues Inventory cost decreases of 20-30% through optimized supply management Administrative time savings of 5-10 hours weekly through automated ordering and tracking Production schedule adherence improvements of 3-7% due to improved supply reliability
These performance gains translate directly to bottom-line benefits that typically deliver ROI within months rather than years. More importantly, they allow manufacturers to confidently make delivery commitments, knowing that gas supply issues won't compromise their ability to perform.
Don't let gas supply issues impact your productivity. Contact us today to explore our tailored solutions.
Looking out for your future
Get your career going on the right track with nexAir
Find out how nexAir KnowHow has impacted businesses all over the Southeast
Our expertise makes us more than a valuable partner, it makes us headlines
