Businesses across all sectors are facing supply chain issues. Every industry has been impacted as problems at major ports have made it difficult to get necessary supplies into the county. And it’s not just a national problem. The global inflation rate is rising to new heights because of scarce materials, raising concerns for many of our clients.
Supply chain issues are a significant concern for many of our clients. ProcessBarron has faced global supply-chain challenges like this before, and we have identified steps your plant can take to minimize the impact of these delays.
Here are some of the tips our experts shared to speed up the areas where the supply chain is slowing things down.
Work With a US Manufacturer
Working with a US manufacturer is the most common recommendation for addressing supply chain issues. International fabricators sometimes offer lower prices, but they face additional steps and challenges to deliver finished goods. Ultimately, a US manufacturer has the edge because many materials needed for your project have already cleared customs, and once your product is built, it can be installed.
ProccessBarron is a trusted supply chain partner for hundreds of businesses in several industries across the United States. To learn more about how we can help you minimize the impact of current supply chain issues, reach out to one of our experts here.
Use Annual Maintenance to Expect the Expected
Supply chain issues can cause problems for all projects, but they are devastating in emergencies. And unfortunately, sometimes things break. It’s an inevitable part of running a business with many critical moving parts. Incorporating a preventative maintenance mentality will help you address potential issues before they turn into problems that could result in production delays or downtime.
Your annual maintenance is an excellent opportunity to proactively handle problems before something breaks. Staying on top of equipment maintenance gives you and your team more time to prepare for significant projects.
We also recommend using your annual maintenance period to identify projects that could extend the life of your current equipment and delay replacement.
Opportunities for Repairing and Rebuilding Equipment
Minor upgrades or equipment retrofits can provide the reliability of brand-new equipment for a significantly lower cost. Repairing and rebuilding equipment will still require raw materials, but it may have advantages when the supply chain is tight.
Read more about when you can use equipment redesigns instead of replacements!
Several years ago, one of our paper mill clients was experiencing excessive system resistance and poor particle handling in its No. 4 combination boiler’s ID fan system. After our inspection, our engineers determined not only was the fan and draft system causing issues but there were also three mechanical dust collectors contributing to excessive pressure drop.
We were able to find a solution that utilized significant retrofits and the re-use of existing system components and saved the paper mill approximately 1,000 horsepower per year, equating to close to $500,000 annually. Read more about this repair and rebuild project here!
Know Your Specs
Knowing your equipment specifications is a small but essential detail in minimizing response time when issues occur. These specifications provide clear instructions on project or equipment intent, performance, and design. It details the quality and standards that should be applied, what materials and parts are required, and any installation or testing conditions relevant to maintenance.
When our experts at ProcessBarron and SouthernField work on equipment, we measure every part of the equipment involved and keep your specs on file to reduce response time when something happens down the line. This allows us to move at lightning speed if something unexpected happens that causes a forced outage.
Budget for a Spare Fan Rotor
We recommend including a spare rotor in the budget for your critical fan equipment. Rotors are expensive. They can be as much as 45% of the price of the fan. But having a spare rotor on-site can dramatically decrease downtime if you have a critical failure. A spare rotor may not seem very expensive at all when compared to the additional weeks or months of downtime your plant might experience if you don’t have one.
It’s a significant investment if you are focusing on the fan, but if you consider your whole baghouse where a single rotor might back up 2 – 4 fans, it starts to look like a bargain.
It makes sense for your plant to have a spare rotor backing up multiple fans. It will dramatically decrease your dependence on the supply chain when something goes wrong.
Call the Experts
We understand the frustrations that supply chain disruptions are causing. Our experts are here to help. We strive to be the most trusted and reliable partner in our industry through timely responsiveness, dependability, quality, and unmatched service.
Reach out to us today for questions about our annual maintenance support, equipment redesigns and retrofits, and more.
For emergency services after hours and weekends, please call 800-226-3267.