Having the right part in storage when you need one to execute a repair is always a concern for maintenance. Why store items if you continually have to purchase those items when you need them? And when you do purchase them, how do you avoid the delays that occur between the time of purchase and time of delivery?
The answer is training. Remember the old adage... You don't know what you don't know.
The storeroom is more than just a place for storing parts. Equipment Bills of Materials (BOM) must be established and maintained in the CMMS/EAM. Part number and descriptions must be established properly and in the right sequence to avoid part duplications. Min/Max levels or reorder points must be identified. Policy and procedures have to be established to set the rules for the business of inventory management. Suppliers must be selected based upon need, quality, price, service, and delivery, and the means to audit them to measure performance. MRO buyers must be able to purchase quality parts, and deliver on time to meet projected demands. Inventories must be accurate so that stock levels are known. Additionally, it is essential for management to commit to the success of the storeroom, and encourage linkages with all departments to optimize strategies for the storeroom.
The difficulty in looking at the overall picture of a storeroom and getting a perspective on what is needed to achieve success is understanding Best Practice's for storeroom management. The importance of the storeroom is typically not heard until equipment is down, needs repair, and parts cannot be located, or shipped.
Training on storeroom and inventory management will assist the storeroom in; storing the right parts, having the correct quantities on hand, selecting the right suppliers, controlling inventories, prioritizing orders, kitting parts, receiving parts, and, having established policies and procedures. If this is understood you can avoid chaos and disruption, improve throughput, provide customer satisfaction, and reduce costs for the company.
The storeroom can be a cost savings, not a drain or expense to the company.
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Tip Provided By: Daniel DeWald CPIM, CMRP, CPM, CPMM
Senior Consultant, People and Processes, Inc.
