Maintenance managers and MRO stock managers are increasingly encountering the apparent dichotomy to increase service levels and save costs at the same time. A dilemma that can be resolved with an in-depth analysis of the spare parts requirement, stock-holding and related costs, order times and internal processes.
Central to the approach of PeachGroup is an analysis of the cost of holding spare parts relative to the cost of non-availability of spare parts. We analyse your processes at different levels and make recommendations that lead to direct cost savings for you, while retaining or even increasing the quality level. We do this analysis across different dimensions:
This is not a static analysis. A new technology, like 3D printing for instance, could be a cost-effective alternative for some spare parts where these parts are not kept in stock, but need to be available quickly. This could apply to spare parts that are not needed frequently, where there is a risk, if kept in stock, of the part becoming outdated by new versions or being obsolete and having to be written off as a loss.
The experience of PeachGroup is that rationalisation and optimisation can achieve major savings in spare parts management with the same or sometimes even higher service levels.
New technology, such as the Internet of Things, means that corrective maintenance can be replaced by scheduled preventive maintenance or even predictive maintenance. Because the machine itself can notify you that a critical number of operating hours has been reached, or of wear, vibrations or potential faults, you know precisely which part you need. This quantitative forecasting means you can efficiently organise the sourcing of spare parts. PeachGroup has developed PeachConnect for preventive fault messages, in which the machine issues a message when parts need to be replaced. Click here to see how PeachConnect works and how it can benefit you.
PeachGroup is familiar with a range of software modules for spare parts management: SAP WM (Warehouse Management), SAP MM (Material Management), and in the case sourcing SAP CS (Customer Service) and SD (Sales & Distribution). These modules give you visibility into and oversight of availability and the financial value of your spare parts, so your processes run efficiently and you can effectively track your costs. See here the software modules we have expertise in.