By David J. Simbari

As any field technician will say, access to critical parts, tools and safety supplies on his or her schedule is key to efficient maintenance and repair operations–especially when outages occur and time is tight. Waiting for access to a locked tool cabinet during a crisis is inefficient, and every minute repairs are not made directly impacts customers in affected areas.

Management also needs supply accountability while providing 24/7/365 required access for crews on flexible schedules. Having an open storeroom doesn't solve the problem; management can't allow carte blanche access. The technicians have the materials, but are they the right ones? Aside from the cost concerns of such an operation, there is the liability issue. If a technician doesn't use the correct safety equipment on site, it could lead to injury and other workers' compensation issues. Controls must be in place to ensure the right materials are in the right hands and provide contractor control and automatic re-ordering capabilities to prevent critical stock outs. This is a tall order. After all, access and control are complete opposites of each other–but are they really?

SupplyPro's point-of-use solutions, located at the service center, fulfills both needs. Simple to use, it's a combination dispensing device and database backbone called SupplyPort that supports the business rules unique to each location, department, work order and employee.

So what is point-of-use? Everyone has seen the machines in lunchrooms that dispense snacks and soft drinks. Everyone has used ATMs and paid for gas at the pump. That's point-of-use. SupplyPro takes that basic technology and expands it directly to where work is taking place to give workers the same easy access to materials; a smart component is added via a robust, Web-enabled database for dispensing the correct materials. The solution also provides accountability for every transaction that occurs within the system for management tracking. Whether it's being used for straight dispensing of materials or for check-in and check-out of tools, the result is the same: an increase in material availability and productivity with reduced costs.

For technicians, it's a simple transaction. They go to the device; swipe their badge; select the materials needed for a job, including tools that can be checked out; and go to the job site. There's no waiting for a supervisor to arrive at the center to give them access–just swipe and select, and they are on their way.

With SupplyPort Web-enabled database, management can set rules and restrictions on the materials in the devices. They can allocate the right materials to the right job and qualified technician and have full access to data from each transaction as it occurs. Business rules can be instituted to manage reordering processes, so the risk of a job not occurring because of lack of materials is eliminated. In addition, contractors can be allowed materials access in accordance with their negotiated contracts, and the company can then charge back any needed tools or supplies to those contractors.

In the power generation plant environment, there are extensive productivity gains with point-of-use technology–including potentially shortened turnarounds by ensuring needed tools and supplies are available and convenient locations to work.

Typical results from implementing a Point-of-Use system in a mobile technician or power generation plant environment include:

• 24/7/365 controlled access to supplies,
• Greater employee satisfaction and productivity,
• Reduced inventory and carrying costs,
• Controlled tool management,
• On-demand report generation: push or pull,
• Automated order management,
• Full cost accounting data at the Point-of-Use, and
• Visibility in real time to materials usage, on-hand levels and restock needs

SupplyPro has a full line of point-of-use devices that can be combined to provide flexible materials control. SupplyPro recently introduced the SBD-Maxx, which provides control for up to 432 individual parts or tools in a standard Lista, Stanley-Vidmar or Rousseau cabinet. The device provides high-density capacity in a small footprint located at the service center for technician access.

For more information about the SBD-Maxx or any of SupplyPro's offerings, visit www.supplypro.com.

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