Electricity and Control September 2024

CONTROL SYSTEMS + AUTOMATION : PRODUCTS + SERVICES

Managing a resilient MRO supply chain

In today’s fast-changing and unpredictable world, maintaining a resilient supply chain for maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) is essential for businesses across various sectors. Managing Director of RS South Africa, Brian Andrew, says the goal is not just to withstand disruptions but to adapt and thrive amid them. Here he shares his top five tips on how to approach and manage MRO supply chains to ensure resilience against future shocks. Focus on trusted suppliers Rather than diversifying the MRO supplier base widely, businesses should rely on a core group of trusted suppliers that can guarantee delivery certainty. Building strong relationships with these suppliers will ensure stability and reliability in the supply chain. Develop a flexible supply chain When faced with pressure, it is essential to act quickly while considering the long-term consequences. A flexible supply chain and suppliers that can adapt to changing circumstances is key. This flexibility includes being prepared for potential increases in spending or the need to switch suppliers without significant disruptions. Leverage technology and data Use eProcurement and vendor managed inventory (VMI) solutions from a trusted and stable procurement partner. Effective planning requires visibility into what is being consumed, especially for companies with multiple plants. High-quality data is essential to maintain adequate inventory levels and ensure supply chain resilience.

Supply chain resilience depends on the knowledge of suppliers, their reliability, and the quality of supplies. procurement practices are equally so. It’s important to work with partners that share common goals and include sustainability programmes in procurement processes. As well as benefitting the environment, for businesses that value sustainability this approach will align with the values of company management, shareholders, and customers. Plan for continuity Continuity planning requires a comprehensive action plan that includes compliance with policies, processes, and corporate governance. Ethical sourcing of raw materials should be a priority, and procurement departments should challenge the status quo, if need be, to follow ethical sourcing principles. Supply chain resilience depends on the quality, reliability, and knowledge of suppliers. Working with the right MRO supplier, leveraging technology, and focusing on sustainable practices, businesses can be better prepared for future disruptions and maintain a robust supply chain. across the unit, site, or enterprise – in and beyond Emerson product lines - Rationalisation and updating of runtime alarm configuration based on the operat ing state of the facility, to eliminate alarm overload - Reducing nuisance alarms with ad vanced alarm shelving - Monitoring and reporting on safety instru mented function (SIF) health and usage - Tracking and reporting metrics on key op erational values. The branding change simply reflects Emerson’s commitment to innovation and to empowering its customers with improved automation capabilities, flexibility, and efficiency. □ For more information visit: https://za.rs-online.com

Choose sustainable and ethical procurement Cost reduction is important, but sustainable and ethical

Excellence in operations management

With the recent introduction of the DeltaV™ Automation Platform, Emerson’s successful AgileOps software will now be known as DeltaV AgileOps. Users across industries and around the world use DeltaV AgileOps every day to drive operational excellence across facilities and enterprises in a way that suits the organisation and process. DeltaV AgileOps is another step towards improving operations management. It facilitates the streamlining and integration of different systems and technologies to make operations management easier. Specifically, it provides for: - Monitoring alarm and event metrics

DeltaV AgileOps is used every day across industries and around the world to drive operational excellence.

8 Electricity + Control SEPTEMBER 2024