Integrated maintenance to maximise efficiency

European supplier of body-in-white stampings and sub assemblies has developed an internet based preventative maintenance and breakdown management system to eliminate downtime.

Stadco, the leading European supplier of body-in-white stampings and sub assemblies to the auto industry, has developed and launched Enterprise Asset Management System (EAM) a unique internet based preventative maintenance and breakdown management system designed to help eliminate downtime due to equipment and machinery failure and therefore disruption of supply to its customers.

The constant drive by vehicle manufacturers to reduce manufacturing costs and improve efficiency is putting ever greater pressure on the automotive supply chain to ensure reliability and consistency of delivery of key parts on time, every time.

In response to this pressure and underlining its commitment to its automotive customers, Stadco has developed EAM, one of the industry's leading internet based maintenance management systems.

Featuring propriety software developed by Stadco operations and systems, EAM uses state-of-the-art touch screen technology to allow Stadco employees to report any faults on machinery and equipment direct to the company's maintenance department.

EAM is easy to use and can be installed on any PC or laptop.

This is important because ease of access to the system is essential for busy users.

In addition, the speed of the internet also means that faults are reported in 'real time' allowing maintenance teams to react to the problem as quickly as possible.

Commenting on how EAM's computer based technology will provide Stadco with a vital management tool to also undertake preventative maintenance, Mike Wellard, Stadco plant engineering manager said: "EAM is unique because it will provide us with a structured approach to maintenance.

As a company we have invested heavily in the latest equipment and machinery required providing the highest levels of service demanded by our customers.

Crucially, EAM will allow us to identify potential faults on equipment before they occur enabling us to efficiently allocate available manpower to plan and undertake regular maintenance and routine checks.

This will help to reduce the possibility of faults and therefore downtime to ensure maximise production on our stamping and sub-assembly lines that supply many of the industry's leading vehicle manufacturers including Ford, Jaguar, BMW, Land Rover, Peugeot, MG Rover and Volkswagen." Wellard continues: "The last thing our customers want to hear is that we are unable to deliver vital parts because of problems on our lines.

In the unlikely event that an unexpected fault does occur then thanks to its speed and accessibility, EAM will enable our employees to alert our maintenance teams the instant a fault is detected so that the problem can be fixed immediately, again minimising downtime and therefore disruption to our customers." Wellard concludes: "As a supplier to many of the industry's leading vehicle manufacturers, security of data is also very important to our individual customers.

As such, EAM features a sophisticated security access system that controls internal and internet access with an audit facility that can track all data inputs." Following a successful trial period at each of the company's sites and extensive feedback from maintenance staff and management, Stadco has now installed and rolled out the latest improved version of the EAM system at its site in Shrewsbury and will be upgrading to the same level at the other sites in the near future.

A German language version will be installed this summer at the recently acquired Saarlouis plant in Southeast Germany.

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