It’s August and Santa is already making a list and checking it twice! Are you? It’s time to take a look at your operations to make sure you’re ready. Long lead times and supply chain unpredictability are likely to plague us for some time. If we’ve learned anything these past two years, it’s to plan and order early to make sure your operations are not affected by downtime due to lack of maintenance and spare parts.
Here’s what you can do NOW to prepare for the peak and ensure you have what you need to make your Holidays merry and bright:
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Make Your List - make sure you have your recommended spare parts lists
If you don’t have them already, get your recommended spare parts lists from the OEMs, especially your mission-critical areas, and get updated quotes for pricing and availability.
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Check Your List - take inventory
We’ve been running at full speed for quite some time. Have you reconciled your inventory? If not, now is the time to do it. Be sure to re-evaluate your safety stock and re-order points based on the potential longer lead times we’ve all been experiencing -
Order Early - restock before it’s too late
Better to have parts on hand when you needed them. Order any items you are out of or are running low, especially for critical spares. -
Check Your Plans – be ready with updated maintenance plans
Do you have areas in need of maintenance/rebuilds prior to the Holidays? Do you have the labor to cover what needs to be done? Reach out to your OEM to schedule some preventive maintenance or better yet, get a preventive maintenance contract in place to completely offload the maintenance activities you don’t have the time or resources for. -
Holidays Fly By - plan for quick changes
If you have critical areas like sorter diverts or carriers in your system, buy a spare assembly to swap them out entirely if something happens. And then bench repair or address the problem components. Your OEM can quote entire assemblies, along with the parts that will allow you to minimize downtime. -
Share the Spirit - train your team and have escalation plans in place
Make sure your new team members have training on your equipment and a lifeline to call should things escalate and they need help. Role play the plan, really. Running through the plan helps you know for sure that your team knows what to do and has current contact information they might need. Having a plan B should things not go according to plan is good too. Be sure the team knows how to reach technical support for your software, controls, and mechanical subsystems.
Need help getting ready for the Holidays?
Call our Trew Customer Experience Team at 800-571-8739 or complete the form below. We would be happy to help!
