As competition in the industry intensifies, power companies that that aren't investing in tool tracking might be heading straight into financial abyss. Not only are they losing time and money but also suffering from productivity downturn and safety hazards.
Traceability of tools and plant upkeep supplies is more than just barcodes and a time stamp. It's flawless coordination between different systems and processes starting from the IT support, procurement, tool calibration, work order management, to data integration into ERP and MRP systems. Power companies that are lacking such coordination will find themselves at a significant economic disadvantage.
Along with the extra expenses and time involved in managing these processes, the duplication of manual data entry is a very common issue, leading to errors and inefficiency. In addition, power plants that do not provide their workers with controlled access to tools, supplies and protective equipment directly at the point of use, run a great many risks in the field of health and safety.
It is an undeniable fact that issuing tools manually from a tool storage facility, can take up to 15 minutes. That's equivalent to paying one out of every four skilled workers to stand idle for an hour, in addition to delaying the attendant from completing more important value-added tasks.
Unattended toolboxes can take less time, but without proper security controls and documentation, power plants have an increased risk of incidents that may result in heavy fines, severe damage to the plant's reputation and the costly replacement of lost, unreturned and contaminated tools.
STANLEY CribMaster is the industry-leader that offers a tool control technology that smoothly integrates with your existing systems and tracks your tools across the entire facility. In an environment where any lost or misplaced tool is a safety risk, it is worth thinking about implementing such technology.
The CribMaster Accudrawer, an intelligent rolling tool chest, is equipped with passive RFID technology and backed by inventory management software which provides controlled 24/7 access to tools directly at the point of use. Any time workers access it, they are required to identify themselves in the system, which then records in real time when an item is taken, who takes it, and when it is returned. The system can alert you when tools are not returned in a proper time frame. This ensures FOD (Foreign Object Damage), FME (Foreign Material Exclusion) and regulatory compliance and builds a culture of accountability amongst the workers. In addition, the system manages calibration schedules and inspection processes, denying access to an uncalibrated item.
By integrating supply chain and compliance functions, the solution provides management with the necessary data to make informed decisions for better forecasting, cost reductions and safety.
"When inventory management process including tracking, dispensing, ordering, calibrating becomes automated, an incredible array of benefits arises for the company, the staff and even the end-customer who will not have to pick up the tab for the shortcomings in the power generation process. Whether you are an innovator or disruptor, you will always struggle with juggling between an ever-increasing amount of processes, procedures and tasks to help your business stay afloat. But to make your business thrive you should concentrate on keeping your plants humming and doing what you do best - POWER, leaving the all the rest, including the asset and tool tracking to sustainable and smart technology from STANLEY CribMaster."
Having spent a decade in the fastener industry experiencing every facet – from steel mills, fastener manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, as well as machinery builders and plating + coating companies, Claire has developed an in-depth knowledge of all things fasteners.
Alongside visiting numerous companies, exhibitions and conferences around the world, Claire has also interviewed high profile figures – focusing on key topics impacting the sector and making sure readers stay up to date with the latest developments within the industry.
