by Natalie Edwards

Steelcraft Engineering Ltd, Auckland - case study

 

'It's given us time, and time is valuable.'

 

We  caught up with Steelcraft's workshop manager, Simon Pennington about the strategy they've used to reduce stock management expenditures... 

Tell us a bit about Steelcraft Engineering Ltd….

Steelcraft is a family owned industrial services company, and we've been operating in  Auckland since 1982.  We've got two hands-on directors and a team of over 27 to oversee a range of projects that include fabrication and machining jobs, on site plant maintenance, machinery relocation and maintenance.  Over the last 30 years, we've expanded from providing engineering and fabrication services to the Auckland steel manufacturing industry, to also include work in the dairy, food and beverage and shipping industries.  We're proud to provide a 'one-stop-shop' service for plant and machinery needs: we can build it, install it, upgrade it, move it and fix it.  We can even provide staff to run it!

What led you to try QUICKSTOCK?

As the company has grown, the workload for our H&S manager and production managers also grew.  Our system [QuickStock] allows for both key personnel to reduce the workload, as it related to stock management, while still retaining full control. 

How did the solution benefit your business?

It's given us the ability to focus, and spend more time on more important key tasks that will benefit our company, because we're not having to spend hours managing stock.  The reports we get from QuickStock still allow us to closely manage costs, but we're not having to do any of the stock counting, ordering, restocking etc.

What were some of the costs involved in ordering before QUICKSTOCK?

Before QuickStock we would have been placing anywhere between 5 to 8 orders a month, and when you add up the time taken for someone to work out what stock you need, call and place an order with a supplier, check and unpack the order once it's delivered, and the admin invoicing time, it all adds up to quite a bit.  And that's not including time for following up if an order hasn't arrived on time, or if products are missing.  On top of that, there's a shipping cost to every order - that alone would have been costing us at least $30 a month - more than the cost of having these cabinets!

Were there any hurdles with getting used to QUICKSTOCK?

Nope.  Not one.  The guys have got product right there when they need it - they love it. 

How would you say QUICKSTOCK has improved your business?

Having the product right there, when the guys need it, means they're 100% focused on the job.  There's no stock outs, so they're not having to stop production and run down to the shop to be able to finish the job.  Then there's all the time saved not having to worry about managing stock levels.  It's given us time, and time is valuable.

What would you say to other engineering companies looking for an inventory management solution?

Go for it!  We find it a great, very transparent solution, that provides terrific savings and keeps your team where they're needed the most...on the fabricating floor.