Berridge on SCMH PM Service

Eileen Huddleston, Berridge California Sales Corp. Branch Manager stresses the importance of equipment maintenance for companies like theirs whose operations are highly reliant on moving things around.

“Preventive maintenance is key in avoiding breakdowns. If we are down one lift truck, that translates into a loss for us.” Berridge is a metal roofing manufacturing company established in 1970 and is among the industry’s top pioneers in designing and developing architectural sheet metal products.

“Every day we move our products and if we don’t have a reliable forklift to move it out of here, we can’t service our customers.”

Berridge is under Southern California Material Handling’s Planned Maintenance (PM) service and recommends its preventive program as well as its repair services. “SCMH has been pretty good. They come in, do their thing. They’re here early and they get things done fast. For me that’s important because it does not disrupt our operations.”

For Berridge, whose wide range of products are constantly in demand, it is important to have uninterrupted workflow. “SCMH’s timing is just right—never too often, never seldom. That’s what works best for companies like Berridge who are always on a tight schedule.”
To learn more about Berridge, visit http://www.berridge.com/contact/california/

Read full article here: http://www.scmh.com/berridge-on-scmh-pm-service/

New to Warehousing Operations? 3 Things to Consider in Sourcing the Right Material Handling Company

New to Warehousing Operations?

3 Things to Consider in Sourcing the Right Material Handling Company

Yippee! You just landed a job as a warehouse manager. Maybe it was a well-deserved promotion and you already know the warehouse workflow by heart. Maybe you just earned your certificate in Logistics and Warehouse Management (click here for other courses http://education-portal.com/articles/Warehouse_Management_Classes_Courses_and_Training_Programs.html). But for whatever reason you are in this path, by choice or by fate, your first step in ensuring that your operations flow as smoothly as it can go, is to know who and what your available resources are.

GATHER INFORMATION   Are you taking someone else’s post? Make it a point to get a hold of all the contact information of the vendors, suppliers, technicians, etc. whom he has worked with. Make sure it is readily available and accessible because more likely than not, you will need that list. Without these information, you’ll be flying blind. Here’s a sample of a quick reference list http://www.scmh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Directory-for-SCMH-Key-Contacts.pdf

Are you a business owner establishing a new warehouse? Solicit at least three proposals from reputable material handling companies and compare them against:

a.      Expertise & Experience How long has the company been around? Are they local? Can other customers attest to their quality of work? Would you choose a company who has been around five years over one that has been around 70 years? Check what their customers say about them. Do they have a BBB rating? Check even their social media pages. Do they have bad reviews? You’ll be surprised what you can dig up with customer reviews—good or bad, little things count. Here’s an example of a company with customer reviews and has been around for over 75 years http://www.scmh.com/testimonials/ 

b.      Responsiveness and professionalism     Consider this: How many times have you had to call a company before they provided you a quote? Did you have to follow-up? Imagine it’s only the beginning of a probable deal and you’ve already been made to wait. Suppliers who are not prompt may reflect probabilities of not meeting deadlines. So be observant about these little things. Get a referral too. See if you know anyone who has worked with and can vouch for material handling suppliers—be it a storage racking job, or warehouse products and supplies. Check out this Southern California local http://www.scmh.com/warehouse-systems/ they have an online catalogue where you can find most warehouse supplies. Their WPG manager Jim Neidhart is known for his responsiveness and expertise.

c.       Pricing  Why did we not put price on top of the list? Because cheaper does not always mean better. Especially when your entire warehouse operations depend on a reliable equipment and a well-flowing lay-out. While it is good to compare pricing, what is cost-effective must always be your first consideration. Would it be worth buying electric forklifts for a little bit more $ if your productivity is driven higher and if you save more on LP/Gas in the long run? You can contact news@scmh.com to help you determine what is the best forklift for your warehouse. They can come to you and they can advise you on the best truck capacity, make, model, type that is best suited for your warehouse. 

If you’re in Orange County, call Jim Nolan. He is always ready to drop by your office early in the morning 562.244.2076. If you’re in San Fernando Valley, Chris Key is your guy. He runs a satellite office in that area dedicated to customers in the Valley. They have their own technicians, parts, and inventory of trucks. Chris can be reached at 818-612-1916. You can also browse their brand new inventory here http://www.scmh.com/category/new/. 

Budgetary concerns? Have you considered renting? Maybe you have not decided yet what to buy. Maybe you want to try what works best. Since you’re new on the job, we recommend you go with a company that rents out brand new or newer trucks. Well-maintained and feature-packed means less things for you to worry about. Here’s a rental solutions company that rents out newer trucks in Southern California 1-877-752-3425. Yes, new, but the price is the same as the old trucks John Doe rents out next door. So don’t worry about the price. It’s NOT more expensive. Here's a sample of rental rates http://www.scmh.com/rental/forklift-rentals-los-angeles/pneumatic-tires/

So remember, gather information on experience and expertise. Gauge the responsiveness and professionalism of the material handling company. Solicit at least three quotes, do your research, and seek referrals. Cheaper is not always better.

Want more? Visit http://www.scmh.com/blog/

Downtime Costing You $$$

No matter how you think your contingencies are set for unpredictable incidents occurring in your workplace, there would be those times your preparations are not meeting your expectations. This much is true whether you’re running a small office-based business, factory, warehouse, manufacturing, or acres of ground for import/export operations.

Unexpected manpower reduction, inoperable machines, broken forklifts are all contributory to downtime that translates to lost $. What can you do to minimize these expenses and catch up on stalled production? Here are three things that can help you minimize damage and resolve downtime at the soonest possible time:

1.       Update or Service the Machinery According to Manufacturing Net, “outdated machines slow down the manufacturing process. Similarly, any machinery that continuously jams or breaks down has a huge negative impact on outcomes. Regular maintenance is important, as is installing new equipment.” If you maintain forklift equipment, have this number handy 562-654-3643. This company, Southern California Material Handling, Inc. has a comprehensive planned maintenance package for all lift truck equipment for a minimum cost http://www.scmh.com/parts-services-services/ . M.Net also says that “Managers should stay up-to-date on the latest technology and suggest updates to improve productivity. Look for opportunities to add capabilities, like with the new etching system from Applied Materials, which moves vertically stacked 3D transistors from concept to reality; or new chances to automate, like Amazon saw with its $775 million acquisition of Kiva Systems, a robotics company focused on making warehouses more efficient.” http://www.manufacturing.net/articles/2013/01/five-ways-to-minimize-manufacturing-downtime  If your company is cost-conscious about upgrading to brand new equipment, there are alternatives you can explore. Forklifts for instance are assets that work hard to keep your operations going. There is a company called SCMH that can buy your old ones and apply credit for you to purchase brand new or newer ones. CAT Lift trucks and Mitsubishi forklifts are among the top choices when it comes to reliability, dependability and value for money. SCMH also sells premium pre-owned forklifts that come with great warranty. http://www.scmh.com/category/used/

2.       Keep a Hot Spare Even if you’re running a web-based firm, downtimes are still inevitable. An article on Biz.Net shares “When a notebook computer is lost or stolen, the impact goes well beyond the monetary value of the unit. Even with the proliferation of smartphones and PDAs, the majority of road warriors and managers still rely on notebooks to accomplish most day-to-day tasks and are dead in the water when these systems go down. One of the most important things an IT department can do to mitigate this disruption is to keep a “hot spare” — a computer that is preloaded with a company’s software — in stock and ready to go at all times.” http://www.biztechmagazine.com/article/2011/04/5-tips-minimize-downtime In cases where we operate in manufacturing or warehousing, “spares” don’t come by easily. It’s hard keeping a spare forklift. Managers would rather put all equipment to good use. What to do when lift trucks breakdown? Call someone you already trust to deliver a well-maintained equipment on time. Remember, SCMH Rental Solutions delivers its forklifts fast and fuss-free. It does not matter whether you need a 5000LB capacity or a 20000LB capacity, an electric or a diesel, an order picker or electric pallet. SCMH will have the solution. Make sure to keep their number handy for those unexpected breakdowns so you can minimize downtime: 877-752-3425 http://www.scmh.com/rental/forklift-rentals-los-angeles/

3.       Keep Everyone Informed Whether it’s a scheduled systems upgrade or an unexpected vehicle break down, let your entire team know what’s going on. This keeps everyone in the loop and in a position to inform customers that the situation is being addressed. Instead of surprised replies to a customer’s question “where is my delivery?” anyone in your company can say “We experienced a power outage and according to the utility company, we should be back up and running in 15 minutes. We apologize for this unexpected delay but we will get your order out as soon as we can.” How does this minimize downtime? It takes a lesser toll on man-hours. The receptionist tries to get the details of the call, who then farms it out to the respective department, who then explains the situation. By letting everyone know what the situation is from the beginning of the call, you cut the phone transfer process by two steps and allow others to stay on task. Being organized is key to any business continuity plan. Know where all your resource and vendor contact numbers are stored. Keep a print out in case computers are not working.

Forklift Rental In LA & OC	1-877-752-3425
Forklift Parts in LA & OC	562-654-3614
Forklift Repair, Service & Maintenance in LA & OC	562-654-3643
Warehouse Products, Design, & Integration	562-654-3676
Operator Training in LA & OC	562-654-3627
CAT, Mitsubishi, Jungheinrich, Kalmar, Bendi, Genie, Sellick, Columbia, Combilift, Drexel Forklifts	562-949-1000