Timing is always important in logistics and distribution, particularly in automated just-in-
time environments. A major for this is uptime, and there are two main factors that dictate
success with uptime in a just-in-time environment.
One of the factors is the original system design. Partnering with an experienced
company that has the resources and intelligence to design a system customized to your
needs is critical. The second is your maintenance team. They are not only integral when
something goes wrong, but they must also have the wherewithal to perform preventive
maintenance that keeps the system running correctly to maximize output/efficiency and
minimize downtime.
Every minute of downtime affects a just-in-time supply chain. This is especially true for
the logistics sector, where those minutes mean dollars, so an on-site support team from
the systems integrator may be the way to go. Here are a few of the advantages of
outsourcing:
Experience: The systems integrator knows their system and equipment
intimately. They not only understand each configuration but also have access to
other configurations of the machinery and system. They also know how different
systems, conveyors, cranes, etc work together. This means that they can solve
problems both quicker and more efficiently. In addition, they are familiar with how
the hardware and the WMS/WMC interact with each other. Now contrast this to
more general maintenance firms that have to learn a system they may never
have worked on.
Focus: Having a dedicated team of experts on-site allows companies to focus on
their strengths; keeping an integral system running at top performance and
reducing downtime. Their focus is only on the automated material handling
aspect of the distribution center. They are dedicated to one crucial part of the
business. However, an in-house maintenance team may have different priorities
and teams pulling them in different directions. This also allows your organization
to focus on their strengths, knowing that an expert is looking after the automated
system.
Efficiency: Contracting to the system integrator or OEM to perform maintenance
yields controlled maintenance costs that stay at set prices.
Having the systems integrator handle just-in-time distribution center greatly reduces the
risk of downtime, allowing companies to focus on core business decisions and
operations. If you have any questions about maintenance, uptime, or if you are in a JIT
environment, please reach out. We’d love to chat.
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