K+S Services

helps aerospace manufacturers speed repairs while reducing costs by offering full-service locations close to its customers.

Given the increasing cost of ongoing maintenance and repair at any industrial plant, many aerospace manufacturers are discovering the value and advantages of working with a repair service that not only has the size and expertise, but also is as nearby as possible.
Proximity, after all, has many advantages for the manufacturer. First and foremost, having a repair service company in close proximity means repairs can be completed faster and the maximum possible uptime maintained. Today, most manufacturing plants need replacement parts quickly.

Proximity means faster service and reductions in shipping costs. For plant maintenance departments, the savings achieved by being close to a reputable repair service company impacts the balance sheet by extending the life of plant assets and keeping them in production.
Considering the vast range of parts that need servicing in any given plant – such as drives, PLCs, servo motors, CNC machines, spindles, ballscrews, hydraulic components, robotics, material-handling components, valves, safety curtains, pumps, actuators, and torque tools – the cost savings can amount to millions.
As is the case in many manufacturing plants, there is ongoing maintenance of equipment like motors, spindles and actuators. To minimize manufacturing downtime, United Technologies Corp. (UTC), a provider of high-technology systems and services to the building and aerospace industries, uses a nearby K+S Services Inc. location for some of its repair services. The two facilities are located within miles of each other, which helps the repairs get done quickly.
From a logistics standpoint, turnaround time is minimized by the close proximity. In some instances, a part has been picked up in the morning, fixed and returned that same afternoon.

A Unique Model
Headquartered in Southgate, Mich., K+S Services is unique in the repair service business because it has pursued a strategic model of expansion by opening new locations close to existing major plants, as well as in geographic regions that attract and support U.S.-based manufacturing.
The company now operates 12 facilities around the globe, including the United States, Mexico, Canada and Europe. More than just a storefront with a lone representative that coordinates with a larger office, these repair facilities are fully functioning shops with managers, technicians and spare parts at every location.
This business model not only delivers all the benefits of high-quality repair services, but provides these services close to where they are needed.
Building on a strong relationship and performance, K+S was recently awarded UTC Supplier Gold status by demonstrating “best in class” quality and delivery performance, implementation of a lean culture and overall strong customer satisfaction. The UTC Supplier Gold program facilitates and accelerates supplier performance improvements and recognizes suppliers who have achieved exceptional performance.
“K+S received many customer feedback responses and high customer satisfaction scores,” UTC Director of Supplier Performance Stephen Bohlman says. “This is a good indication that K+S Services is satisfying their primary users by operating at best-in-class service levels.”

Asset Management
If physical proximity in terms of location has its benefits, there is no relationship closer than having a repair service representative stationed within the plant itself.  In K+S’s Smart Total Asset Management Program (STAMP), customers are assigned a full-time, on-site account manager to serve as a one-stop facilitator and manager of all repairable assets within a specific plant.
This includes tracking all repairs, expediting when required, shipping or delivering to and from the nearby repair facility, maintaining database integrity, streamlining and stabilizing procedures, generating a wide variety of reports and keeping the customer informed throughout the process. The facilitator works with the plant to establish minimum and maximum levels to ensure effective lead-time fulfillment of repairs and uptime.
When the part arrives at the repair facility, technicians conduct an evaluation to identify the probable cause of failure, and then repair and test the part per the manufacturing test procedures. After being repaired the item is tested with the associated closed loop test system for the specified duration. The part and its associated documentation are then sent back to the plant.
Proof of the success of this business model rests with the number of corporations ascribing to it. Major companies such as Continental, GM, Firestone, Ford, Goodyear, GE Air, Chrysler and UTC are current STAMP customers. K+S successfully services well over 800 manufacturers.
This success points to a very good reason why the local repair-service model should see even greater adoption by more aerospace manufacturers in the immediate future, the company says.
For more information, contact the company at 734-374-0400 or 800-542-1331, e-mail sales@k-and-s.com or visit www.k-and-s.com.