Law 40 — No Free Lunch: ជៀសវាងដើមទុន “ថោក ប៉ុន្តែ ប៉ះពាល់ គុណភាព/សុវត្ថិភាព”_ from Team Leadership with The 48 Laws of Power
Cheap upfront often means expensive later: accidents, rework, delays, reputation loss. Choose value, not just price.
No free lunch. តម្លៃថោកដែលប៉ះពាល់ សុវត្ថិភាព និង គុណភាព គឺថ្លៃជាងនៅចុងក្រោយ—rework, delay, liability, brand damage.
1) Why “Cheap” Costs More (ហេតុអ្វីថោក→ថ្លៃ)
Safety risk
- PPE/substandard tools → injuries → work stop.
- Unrated electrical parts → fire/shock risk.
Quality drift
- Low-grade materials → defects/punchlist spike.
- Short warranty → hidden future cost.
Schedule & cash
- Failures → rework days → LD risk.
- Supplier no-show → idle labor/equipment.
Principle: If it threatens Safety/Quality/On-Time, the lowest price is the most expensive choice.
2) Red Flags (សញ្ញាអាសន្នពេលជ្រើសថោក)
Supplier
- No verifiable references/certifications.
- Refuses site mock-up or sample testing.
- Unclear delivery plan; vague lead times.
Material/Spec
- “Equivalent” with missing standards (EN/ASTM/UL rating).
- Warranty < 12 months or exclusions everywhere.
- Large spec deviation hidden in small print.
Commercial
- Unrealistic price vs market by > 20%.
- Advance payment demanded with no security.
- No penalty for late delivery/quality failure.
3) Value Engineering ≠ Corner-Cutting
VE that’s GOOD (គុណតម្លៃ)
- Same or higher rating; lower lifecycle cost.
- Simpler install → fewer trades/steps.
- Longer warranty • local service.
VE that’s BAD (កាត់មុំ)
- Lower safety/quality rating to hit price.
- Hidden maintenance or frequent replacement.
- No test/mock-up; verbal “it’s fine”.
Rule: Approve VE only if it keeps S/Q/T and reduces Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).
4) Procurement Rules (ច្បាប់ទិញចំនួន)
Shortlist & Checks
- 3 quotes minimum with identical scope/BOQ.
- Verify standards (EN/ASTM/UL/CE) + data sheet.
- Site mock-up or sample pass required.
Commercial Protections
- Delivery dates + liquidated damages/penalty clauses.
- Warranty ≥ 12–24 months; service response ≤ 48h.
- Payment tied to inspection/commissioning pass.
Leadership cue: Explain to clients: we optimize value, not just sticker price—saves them time and rework later.
5) Compare Matrix (តារាងប្រៀបធៀប)
| Criteria | Option A (Lowest Price) | Option B (Best Value) |
|---|---|---|
| Standards/Rating | Basic / unclear | Certified (EN/ASTM/UL) |
| Warranty & Service | 6–12 mo / offshore | 24 mo / local response ≤ 48h |
| Install complexity | Multi-step; rework risk | Simpler; clear method statement |
| TCO (3–5 yrs) | High (failures + maintenance) | Lower (durable + spare parts) |
| Schedule impact | Unreliable lead time | Committed lead time + penalties |
Use this matrix in bid reviews; document why Option B wins even if price is higher.
6) Templates (គំរូប្រើរហ័ស)
Spec Compliance Check
- Standard rating: ______ (attach datasheet)
- Mock-up/test result: Pass / Fail (date)
- Warranty & service terms: ______
- Lead time & delivery plan: ______
Client Note (explain “No Free Lunch”)
- “Option B costs +8% now, saves ~15–20% TCO.”
- “Risk avoided: rework 5–7 days; inspection failure.”
- “Safety rating higher; warranty 24 months.”
7) KPIs (វាស់ប្រសិទ្ធភាពការជ្រើសតម្លៃល្អ)
First-pass inspections
≥ 90%
≥ 90%
Rework days / month
↓ trend
↓ trend
Supplier OTIF
On-Time/In-Full ≥ 95%
On-Time/In-Full ≥ 95%
Warranty claims
↓ quarter over quarter
↓ quarter over quarter
CO due to failures
= 0 (preventable)
= 0 (preventable)
TCO vs Budget
≤ budget at 3–5 yrs
≤ budget at 3–5 yrs
8) Mini Cases (ឧទាហរណ៍ខ្លី)
Case A — “Cheap tiles”
- Saved 6% upfront → 12% cost added from cracking & rework.
- Schedule slipped 5 days; client unhappy → reputation hit.
Case B — “Value LED”
- +10% price, UL listed, 3-year warranty.
- Install faster; energy ↓; zero failures at 12 months.
Lesson: Choose options that keep Safety • Quality • On-Time and reduce lifecycle cost—even if sticker price is higher.
🔗 Related — Spend Smart, Build Right
Style: chips + quick open in new tab; inherits your blog font-size controller.
Tags:
B.48Laws_Detail