A storeroom or tool crib that is well-managed can be a vital element in keeping inventory costs reasonable, improving maintenance and engineering team efficiency, and reducing machine downtime, according to the January 2001 issue of Maintenance Technology. If a storeroom is well-organized in terms of both storage space and individual parts, maintenance personnel will be able to locate parts faster, reducing the downtime of the machine being maintained.
Proper inventory control techniques, with written procedures that the whole maintenance team follows, will ensure parts are on hand when needed and will help keep inventory costs reasonable. At least half the annual total for maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) inventory should be kept on hand. Maximum and minimum levels should be set so high-usage items are on the shelf and the software package automatically generates reports for reorders. Usage history should be tracked using an integrated computerized maintenance management system (CMMS), and issues and receipts should be entered daily. Each item used should be tied to a specific machine and job in order to help determine machine life and efficiency. Items stocked by local vendors can be left with the vendors until just before they are needed.
Choosing MRO vendors wisely will also help ensure efficient, cost-effective storeroom management. Vendors should be willing to provide technical expertise, as machine enhancements can help decrease downtime and increase the productivity of the machine. Vendors should also provide inventory management assistance in such forms as on-site consignments, organizational help, dedicated off-site inventory, overstock returns, obsolescence returns, equipment surveys, and product standardization. In addition, vendors should offer competitive pricing. The price paid for products should be monitored periodically, and blanket orders should be set and negotiated periodically. Vendors should also be encouraged to help lower transaction costs wherever possible by such practices as monthly or summary billing, prepaid freight, electronic order entry, and discounted payment terms.
Based on a report from Maintenance Technology
