Engineering group Flowplant manufactures and supplies equipment for a range of industrial applications, such as drain and sewer cleaning, abrasive blasting and descaling and hydrostatic testing. Working on a range of high profile projects, it is essential for Flowplant to have sufficient stock of consumables to ensure downtime is minimised.
One of the problems Flowplant regularly encountered was with small value, high volume items, as they are difficult to track and control in terms of stock holding.
Storage was another problem area for Flowplant, with items either locked up in cupboards which slowed down access, or handed out items to all employees, leading to a high volume of cash tied up in consumable stock. Additionally, Flowplant's historic management of low-value consumables consisted of paper ordering and the purchasing department having to constantly liaise with stores, which were not always open when stock was required.
Flowplant's operators required a system that provided them with a clear understanding of where stock is and how it can be retrieved. Following research into an internal solution, Flowplant contacted Brammer after reading its whitepaper on industrial vending which highlighted the potential savings of between 25 and 40 per cent on consumables.
Brammer's Invend allowed Flowplant to benefit from an industrial vending machine service without the upfront cost of having to purchase the machine. Brammer installed the Invend™ machine into Flowplant's factory, giving site managers a complete oversight of what is being used, by who and how often.
Invend is a vending machine which dispenses a wide range of industrial consumables, ranging from abrasives and cutting tools to hand tools, and from personal protective equipment (PPE) to lubricants and greases. It can be used on a 24/7 basis, providing the user with the right industrial consumables at the time they need them. Additionally, the equipment is maintained by Brammer, as well as the re-ordering system, which automatically notifies Brammer of the need to restock when inventory runs low.
Since implementing the Invend on site, Flowplant has seen savings of around 60 per cent on consumables, a considerable saving for the manufacturer. Moreover, the stock ordering process is effectively outsourced and falls in conjunction with Flowplant's lean manufacturing philosophy, adding value by reducing unnecessary spend.
Mark Bastable, Managing Director of Flowplant, said: "We have been delighted with the introduction of Invend in our manufacturing facility. We have received fantastic feedback from our operators, who find the ease of use a considerable benefit, as well as the availability of equipment to them during all times of the day.
"We're able to track who is using the products, providing high visibility, as well as giving our operators the freedom to simply select the products they require knowing they will be in stock with Brammer's automatic reordering service. The system fits with our lean philosophy and provides improvements with our reporting, at a cost which is significantly lower than it used to be."
David Pascoe at Brammer said: "We are delighted that Invend™ continues to provide cost-savings to manufacturers across the UK. Flowplant has received excellent results, surpassing the predicted consumption savings of 25 to 40 per cent, to achieve 60 per cent savings on its consumable expenditure."
Invend is available with three dispense mechanisms – coil, locker and carousel – and the only cost to the customer is a £60 monthly fee for software usage. The machines have an internet connection direct to Brammer register re-stocking needs, as well as providing real time management information on usage by individual and cost centre.