Proximity to manufacturers is the new business model for repair services

Proximity has many advantages for the manufacturer. Repairs can be completed faster, and maximum possible uptime is maintained. Today, most manufacturing plants need replacement parts quickly.

For plant maintenance departments, faster service and low shipping costs impact the balance sheet by extending the life of plant assets and keeping them in production.

Considering the vast range of parts that need servicing– drives, programmable logic controllers (PLCs), servo motors, CNC machines, spindles, ballscrews, hydraulic components, robotics, material handling components, valves, safety curtains, pumps, actuators, and torque tools – savings can amount to millions of dollars.
 

Getting close

K+S Services works with United Technologies (UTC), a provider of high-technology systems and services to the building and aerospace industries. There is ongoing maintenance of equipment to minimize manufacturing downtime for motors, spindles, and actuators.

Due to close proximity, in some instances, a part has been picked up in the morning, fixed, and returned that afternoon.

Headquartered in Southgate, Michigan, K+S Services Inc. pursued a strategic expansion model by opening new locations close to existing major plants.

The company operates 11 facilities in the U.S., Mexico, Canada, and Europe. More than just a store front with a lone representative that coordinates with a larger office, these repair facilities are fully functioning shops with managers, technicians, and spare parts at every location.

K+S was recently awarded UTC Supplier Gold status by demonstrating quality and delivery performance, implementation of a lean culture, and overall customer satisfaction. Achieving Competitive Excellence, or ACE, is the UTC operating system for promoting quality, delivery, efficiency, and customer satisfaction. UTC Supplier Gold is a program that facilitates and accelerates supplier performance improvements and recognizes suppliers that have achieved exceptional performance.

“K+S received many customer feedback responses and high customer satisfaction scores,” says Stephen Bohlman, director of supplier performance, UTC. “This is a good indication that K+S Services is satisfying their primary users by operating at best-in-class service levels.”
 

In-plant service

K+S’ Smart Total Asset Management Program (STAMP) assigns customers a full-time, on-site account manager to facilitate and manage all repairable assets.

This includes tracking repairs, expediting when required, shipping or delivering to and from the nearby repair facility, maintaining database integrity, streamlining and stabilizing procedures, generating reports, and keeping the customer informed throughout the process. The facilitator works with the plant to ensure effective lead-time fulfillment of repairs and uptime.

Major companies such as Continental, General Motors, Ford, Goodyear, GE Aviation, Chrysler, and UTC are STAMP customers.

This success points to a very good reason why the local repair-service model should see even greater adoption by more aerospace manufacturers in the immediate future.

K+S Services Inc.
www.k-and-s.global