PHCP/PVF distribution is the activity of both selling and delivering products and services from the manufacturer to the customer. As businesses become more global and customer expectations constantly evolve, it becomes important to improve distribution to ensure that customers, manufacturers and all members of the distribution channel are satisfied. Ultimately, distributors must provide the necessary products and services when and where the customer needs them.

There are many different roles within distribution and that list is expanding with the growth of technology, analytics, e-commerce and more. Traditional roles include warehouse workers, supply chain professionals, truck drivers, procurement and inside and outside salespeople.

Although distribution as a concept is relatively simple, in practice distribution management may involve a diverse range of complex activities and disciplines including detailed logistics, transportation, warehousing, storage and inventory management, kitchen and bath showroom management, IT and sales.

The plumbing, heating, cooling and piping (PHCP) industry is integral in modern industrial systems. The industry is comprised of plumbing systems that protect the nation’s safety and health, heating and cooling systems to increase safety, productivity, human health and comfort, and piping that tie all of these systems together.

The PHCP industry is an essential part of an industrialized society and helps support the transportation of everything from the steam in nuclear power plants and oil in refineries to the gasoline used in automobiles and water supplied inside buildings.

Pipe, valves, and fittings are the parts that allow materials to flow from one place to another. PVF plays an essential role in our everyday life including our drinking water, gas for cars and more. Depending on the application, pipe, valves, and fittings come in various shapes and sizes and can be made from metals and non-metals.

Pipe, valves, and fittings each have their own function. Pipe is used to carry or transfer substances like liquids, gases, or small solids. Valves are mechanical devices used to regulate, control, or direct the flow and pressure of substances within a piping system. Finally, pipe fittings are pieces that connect pipe sections together and help change the direction of piping. They also adapt pipes to different shapes and sizes and help regulate and measure fluid flow.