Tooling Intelligence slashes SupplyPro vending systems lead times transportation costs and carbon footprint

posted on 20th Dec 2009

Expansion of Tooling Intelligence’s operations as SupplyPro’s channel
sales manager for the UK & Ireland has enabled the tool vending equipment specialist to
significantly reduce lead times on customised dispensing systems by undertaking
assembly in the UK.

“Through additions to our in-house engineering and IT resources, we have been able to extend services to end users, independent tool vending distributors and tooling manufacturers alike,” says Tooling Intelligence’s managing director Mike Swaffield.

“The recruitment of additional staff has paved the way for system assembly at our Coventry site. It not only means that we can tailor units to users’ precise requirements, but supply them in half the time of US-sourced items. The new arrangement also allows us to make major savings in transportation costs and achieve a substantial reduction in the equipment’s carbon footprint.”

By drawing on the same in-house resources employed to build as well as service and support units in the field, customers can have total confidence in the comprehensive, one-stop shop service available from Tooling Intelligence, which include everything from consultancy, system specification, manufacture and installation, through to equipment configuration, on-site commissioning, operator training and ongoing customer support.

Tailored around a well known range of industrial storage hardware, SupplyPro systemsare driven by a touch screen interface that is as simple to use as a cashpoint machine.

At the heart of each installation is the company’s patented web-based data management engine, SupplyPort, which not only provides users with real time information, but also allows system administration to be performed from any web-enabled device. The software operates independently from the end user’s own IT infrastructure and is hosted on behalf of the customer at data centres that are monitored round the clock, seven days a week. The system offers true ‘plug and play’operation, with all data back up and disaster recovery included within Tooling Intelligence’s standard service contract.

Additional peace of mind comes through SupplyPro software’s remote monitoring and diagnostics, which will quickly identify any communications malfunctions, for example, and report them to the system’s support team. Tooling Intelligence extends these capabilities even further by offering customers the option of installing a secure remote service package with their system, which virtually eliminates the need for on-site diagnostic service visits. Indeed, using this facility, Tooling Intelligence will often be able to identify and rectify a fault before the customer is aware that a problem exists.
The versatility and flexibility of SupplyPro’s offer provides benefits for all types of users. The company’s SmartDrawer dispensers can be configured to accommodate a wide variety of products from different manufacturers, along with items such as inspection equipment, power or hand tools, welding consumables, maintenance spares or safety equipment. The system also allows users to specify the most appropriate security levels for their needs.

“The combination of stringent access control and sourcing independence is attractive to end users as well as our supply chain partners,” adds Swaffield. “We support a nationwide network of independent tool vending distributors in addition to our direct sales customers. We also supply dispensing systems to several leading cutting tool OEMs, who provide tool management as partof their services to key accounts.

“SupplyPro is the premier provider of automated point-of-use technologies and a recognised leader in tool vending and storage equipment within the manufacturing sector. However, the system’s inherent benefits of cost and stock control make it equally applicable to the dispensing of other high value items. We are therefore actively looking to expand our operations to target opportunities in other industry sectors, such as health care, facilities management, transportation and logistics.”

About Tooling Intelligence Ltd

Based in Coventry, Tooling Intelligence is an independent UK company specialising in improving the return on investment achieved by companies through their spend on nonproduction materials such as cutting tools, safety equipment and general MRO (maintenance, repair and operations) procurement. The company is also the UK and Ireland channel manager for industry-leading SupplyPro engineering point-of-use dispensing solutions.

Owned and run by engineers and business improvement experts, Tooling Intelligence offers a comprehensive one-stop shop of services ranging from consultancy and equipment specification, through to system configuration, installation, training and ongoing customer support.

For further information please call Mike Swaffield free on: 0800 298 0553