Vending solution helps cuts costs and downtime

Authorised users get tools from the QuickVend dispenser using individual Smart Cards – similar to using a cashpoint. The intelligent system records how many tools of each kind are taken, and by whom. It can also allocate tools to ‘cost centres’ such as route cards, work orders and manufacturing cells, and provide detailed usage reports to simplify the management of tool consumption. Businesses only pay for the tools they use and the system automatically analyses rate of use and keeps the dispenser stocked accordingly.

Dan Govier, tool room manager at Pattern Forme, confirms: "With QuickVend there are no more time-consuming visits to a manned store, no more hidden ‘squirrel stocks’ in staff lockers and tool boxes, no more frustrating searches and audits, and no more wasteful collections of unused tools. What’s more, the tools are vended at the same price you would normally pay when ordering from Quickgrind.”

Quickgrind MD, Ross Howell, concludes: "QuickVend is a result of our ‘total solution engineering’ approach, in which we put ourselves in our customers’ shoes and work out ways to make their lives easier and drive their businesses forward. 

"Why incentivise customers to buy in bulk and end up with stocks of tools that they may not need? Instead, we have combined our technological expertise, administrative efficiency and creativity to design a solution for our customers which removes the headache of forecasting and stock management.”

The system, which can also be used for controlled use of consumables and PPE, was a winner recently in the SME Innovation category of the Sellafield Supplier Awards.