Blackwoods inventory solutions - Focus on what you do best

For Coopers Brewery, their new Blackwoods onsite solution is streamlining stores management. Running out of critical parts, tools, consumables, or Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) can not only cost you precious time and money, but take you away from what you do best. This was initially the case for Coopers Brewery, largely due to the complex workflows and maintenance systems associated with their beer production and distribution processes.

Continued growth and a distributor for international brands, the brewery needed to explore new ways of doing things.

“In recent years we’ve had a real focus on equipment reliability from new parts and materials to maintenance planning, and we’ve had to look at making continuous improvements to keep up with demand,” says Michael Shearer, Coopers’ General Manager. “When it came to our internal stores depot, we had an opportunity to look at the ways we do things.” Operations Manager Nick Sterenberg went on to explain. “To move our store from being a fully expensed one to being valued, we looked at replicating what we’d seen overseas into our Australian operations. That’s where Blackwoods came in.”

For the past four years, Blackwoods has supplied a customised onsite stores management program at the brewery.
This is supported by two full-time site facilitators – Blackwoods employed professionals – that attend to the ordering and physical management of Coopers’ stores. The program has evolved from vendor consolidation to product rationalisation, and the management of inventory holdings, and invoicing.

Given Blackwoods’ expertise in inventory management, their broader services are becoming increasingly popular in
mining, construction, transport and local government, where access to critical inventory is essential to keeping projects on track, and workers safe and productive.

Martin Shaw of Blackwoods Inventory Solutions says, 

“As businesses expand, and their inventory holdings grow, keeping track of stock can be difficult. In many cases, integrated procurement processes help control spend, reduce costs, and maintain stock levels and compliance. And this typically requires an external level of experts. With the challenges workers face in large-scale industrial projects, our inventory and shutdown solutions can overcome this by providing sites with complete control and visibility over their stock. This allows them to spend more time out in the field, and less time worrying about having the right gear.”

Four key areas make up Blackwoods inventory solutions offering.

1. Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI)

VMI provides reliable and immediate availability of all your stock needs, which allows your workers access 24/7 to the right items to get the job done. Having Blackwoods VMI and our Site Facilitators onsite helps provide a safer working environment, improved compliance, and greater control over your inventory, resulting in a reduction in cost of capital. This is backed up by monthly reporting, stock consolidation opportunities and lower administration/operational costs. Our Mobile App also provides seamless integration with your ordering process, for faster, more accurate supply of product and further opportunity to reduce costs.

2.Vending

Blackwoods’ automated vending machines provide uninterrupted access to safety equipment 24/7, ensuring your workers are protected from head-to-toe with the right gear. With the machines linked to your employee’s ID, it’s just a matter of scanning their badge to get what they need, when they need it. This helps you control stock distribution and receive detailed reporting on stock usage, which reduces spend and wastage. Customised vending solutions are available to meet the specific product needs of different sites – traditional coil and carousel for smaller PPE and general tooling, weight scale for larger, high-volume items like hard hats and disposable overalls, and locker systems for high-value items such as safety harnesses or expensive tooling.

3. Shutdown Solutions

Shutdowns are a necessary occurrence but can be complex and expensive if not managed well. With the use of bulk dry store containers, dangerous goods, and purpose-built mobile warehouses, they play a critical role during planned maintenance periods. Blackwoods’ cost-effective and time-efficient Shutdown Solutions provides access to both an onsite store, and an experienced team that manages sourcing, distribution, and reporting processes. This reduces the number of purchase orders, removes the need to deal with multiple vendors, and drives cost savings and efficiencies.

4. Onsite Service

Just as the right safety equipment is used for specific projects, an inventory solution must also be tailored to your site. Blackwoods offers full-time onsite facilitators with experience in supply chain management and product rationalisation. This will give you peace of mind knowing the job will be done without hassle. And you’ll receive customised reporting for full control over your spend. The availability of technical specialists with experience in mobilising Blackwoods Inventory Solutions in surface and underground environments, means we’re well positioned to help you get jobs done safely and on time.

Talk to your local inventory solutions specialist today.

From vending machines and mobile warehousing, to stores management and inventory control, Blackwoods Inventory Solutions can be tailored to your needs, no matter how big or small your business. Find more information here.

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