Berkheimer stocks products from over 228 of the finest manufacturers of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration equipment and supplies. In addition to those products stocked, Berkheimer also has access to an additional 1620 manufacturers who share a similar commitment to quality. A partial list of some of the manufacturers Berkheimer stocks who are in the process of applying, or who have already been ISO certified includes Armstrong Air Conditioning, State Water Heaters, CSG, Fedders, Honeywell, Fasco, Seminole, Titeflex, Bell & Gossett, Reznor, Furnas, General Electric, Milwaukee Electric Tools, and Robertshaw.

Quality is a fundamental element that has been built into Berkheimer’s processes from the very beginning. To date, Berkheimer has not assigned as high a priority to becoming ISO Certified as it has to other efforts to improve their service and quality. As some of Berkheimer’s suppliers have worked to achieve ISO certification, Berkheimer has focused its resources on specific systems and improvements that provide a more direct and immediate impact to each of its valued customers.

In 1964, Berkheimer started its computerization program. Berkheimer was one of the first distributors in the HVACR industry to utilize computers. In order to provide better quality and service to its customers, Berkheimer started by computerizing the Inventory Management, Invoicing, and Accounts Receivable functions. The Accounts Payable and Purchasing functions were soon to follow.

In 1985, again in an effort to improve quality and service provided to its customers, Berkheimer introduced computer terminals on the sales counter to eliminate the errors associated with hand written tickets and improve the accuracy of the inventory. In 1989, Berkheimer was a charter member of the Industry Bar Code Alliance. Berkheimer’ s Chief Operating Officer was President of IBCA in 1991. From the beginning, Berkheimer has pushed for and supported industry standardization.

Berkheimer developed bar coding capability before the suppliers in the HVACR industry had the capability to ship bar coded products. Berkheimer also developed the capability to interface with its customers and suppliers via EDI, following the ANSI X.12 transaction set.

Beginning in a single warehouse in Gary, Indiana, Berkheimer has grown into a sophisticated 15 branch integrated wholesale-distribution network. Of the present 15 locations, only one location was via acquisition. The other 14 locations resulted from internal growth. Financially, Berkheimer is rock solid. It has no external debt. Throughout Berkheimer’s 60 year history, through all of the ups and downs of the economy, Berkheimer has never suffered a single economic lay off. In the recessionary period of 1982, when other distributors were cutting back on their inventory levels, Berkheimer raised their inventory level and increased their service level goal from 93% to 95%. Rated 4A1 by Dun & Bradstreet, Berkheimer has the financial strength to meet any challenge.