Managing Spare Parts in Manufacturing Settings
When it comes to maintaining an inventory of spare parts on hand many companies are reluctant. There are quite a few in management that wonder if it is counter intuitive while trying to control operating costs. The goal of all businesses, not just manufacturing, is to reduce expenses while increasing efficiency and many don’t see how keeping spare electrical components on hand helps achieve this goal. In this installment we will look into how having an inventory of parts on hand eliminates downtime and increases overall effectiveness without extra expense to the company.
Inventory Management
By incorporating spare part management into plant operations managers can successfully create an environment where downtime, caused by machine failure, is practically eliminated. The biggest struggle in spare part management is creating an inventory. In order to do this effectively, it is crucial that the maintenance records of machinery are thoroughly gone over, and critical part breakdowns are identified. Once this has been completed there you will be left with an idea of what spare parts are needed to comprise a complete operational spare part inventory.
Don’t forget when creating an inventory list to check into refurbished parts and components. Many older pieces of equipment have become obsolete however this doesn’t mean that you can’t find parts to repair them. Many times, obsolete equipment can be repaired using parts that can be found through companies specializing in obsolete refurbished electrical components, such as J & P Electrical Company, https://www.jpelectricalcompany.com.
Strategy of Operations
Determining whether you will function as a predictive or reactive position plays a large role in the replacement part stock that you will keep on hand. Most manufacturers are historically known for being reactive to events like equipment failure. In order to successfully create a functional spare part inventory, facilities must turn their focus on a more predictive approach to machine maintenance and failure. Successful predictive spare part management will include the collection and analysis of data, the ability for managers to see the operation as hole in which they foresee underlying problems and find solutions.
Inventory Control
Don’t think that your spare part inventory has to be all-encompassing to be effective. In reality that is an unrealistic goal to achieve. Instead develop an inventory that is categorized by priority. Recognize parts that can be used for more than one purpose, those that are critical to your operation, and those critical to a specific piece of machinery. This needs to be revaluated on a regular basis to make sure that as new machinery is introduced they aren’t forgotten.
J & P Electrical Company is a full-service electrical company that supplies contractors, end users, and supply houses with new surplus, quality reconditioned, and obsolete electrical equipment. We purchase a wide range of electrical equipment such as bus plugs, bud ducts, panel switches, substations, and transformers. More information can be found at https://www.jpelectricalcompany.com
