[waialua359]

Originally Posted by Paul Copioli

All of us at VEX are distraught about the product availability timing this year for VEXpro. Some things were definitely out of our control, but most were completely within our control.

We made forecasting and planning decisions based on last year and based on how useful we thought each product was going to be (btw, not at all knowing what the game is ahead of time) for the upcoming season. We got way too many things wrong this year, but I can promise these two things: (1) We will do whatever we can to make it right this season and (2) we WILL be much, much better next year.
Paul

Paul,
I hope that one day soon, the stakeholders of the GDC and FIRST will unveil more details of the game to suppliers, in order to achieve better forecasting of specific parts that might sell more than others.
As with any company, having an excess of inventory isnt always good and bottom line, teams cant get what they need in such a time crucial project for high demand items.

Personally, our biggest issue has always been pneumatic cylinders. Its an expensive item to stock up on in different sizes. Its not like we are the Robonauts that carry 100's of cylinders in their stock bin ready for use.

-Glenn