Paint availability PPG, Local BC parts store not getting much of anything in Options

[pete-stevers]

I have a set of cookies to paint. I went into our local parts store(Lordco) for some PPG paint and primer. The paint rep says sorry I can't get any primer in, and only have enough base to make one quart of paint... no hardeners or reducers for either??? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)
Are there any of you Mericans having trouble with supply, specifically with PPG paints? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)
If so why?

[Mikey914]

Some if not most of the problems we are seeing is from the "just in time" or JIT model for stocking and manufacturing. It was implemented originally by Toyota and is considered lean manufacturing. My business consultant has been trying to get me to do this to streamline and reduce wasted resourced by having too much on my shelf. Since we are small I have always set up to make thousands or hundreds of parts instead of just the projected 3-6 month need. It has cost me in warehousing, but meant that my prices are fixed until I need to make more.

Most large companies use JIT, and this is where the supply chain snapped. It's not just your store, but PPG has to have raw material on hand to meet their projections and the dominoes fall. So, unfortunately we can see this being an issue for awhile, and with speculation on political environment and economy, most companies are being conservative on the spool back up as if the music stops (or more likely slows) they can have large inventories of product that has a finite shelf life sitting.

While I'm a big fan of PPG, do you have any other alternatives? There are some body shops that mix their own paint, perhaps you could strike a deal to buy some paint?