Moving into the future with Flexco
JOSHUA ABBERTON, NSW Sales Manager for Flexco reports on the future of auditing practices.
Traditionally, conveyor audits are completed using a compendium filled with piles of unfiled paper – this practice can often be an unorganised and overall inefficient way of conducting belt conveyor audits.
As the extractive industry becomes more technologically advanced, it’s time our auditing practices followed suit. Flexco’s New South Wales Territory Manager, Joshua Abberton speaks of how Flexco’s custom audit app has changed the way that audits are conducted.
Previously, using old-school pen and paper auditing methods – it would take around 3 weeks to properly analyse and collate data into a report comprehensive enough to hand over to site management for consideration. “With the Flexco audit app, we’re able to have discussions about implementing solutions to productivity challenges before we even leave the site. It’s really helpful for both us and the end user”, Abberton reports.
On site, Flexco specialists can input conveyor system ratings, diagnose issues, attach photographs and product information, as well as include detailed notes within the reports. Flexco specialists can then generate the report instantly, so you get the results in your inbox before we leave your site.
After receiving the report Flexco specialists are able to sit with the relevant parties and run through a course of action which we suggest to ensure maximum productivity is reached, all while reducing and controlling maintenance costs.
Flexco field specialists always focus on auditing the belt conveyor system as a whole, rather than solely examining belt conveyor products as individual components. By doing so, Flexco field specialists are often able to find the root cause to an issue, and as a result, implement a solution for your entire system, instead of multiple quick fixes, which will result in a need for constant
replacement and ultimately be a drain in resources for your site.
Abberton states the importance of having a quarry maintenance team work closely with maintenance crews to complete belt conveyor system audits, “working closely with maintenance personnel means that we gain a deeper understanding of current site challenges, and can collaborate on solutions together. The relationship and trust which we build with site is what makes Flexco solutions as strong as they are”.
The audit report essentially provides the quarry manager with a digital, real-time inspection that elaborates on what needs to be fixed, and what could be upgraded to be able to reach the site’s
productivity goals.
“The best time for an audit to be performed is when all conveyors are up and running as per usual, so we can see any problems as they occur on a daily basis, and then use the collated data to create a fast-acting solution, or long-term contingency plan”.
Another feature of the app which is often underrated is that specialists are constantly cataloguing products and part numbers as they’re auditing the belt conveyor system. The audit can often act as a stock take as well – which aids procurement and purchasing teams.
Whilst the Flexco audit app adds additional ease and value to the audit process, the importance of conducting audits still remains the same. Having the same maintenance crews looking over your system day in and day out can lead to potential problems being overlooked.
Having a third party look over your system, may help to highlight potential challenges. “Flexco specialists don’t just look for issues during belt conveyor system audits, they also look for areas which could be upgraded, and potentially work more efficiently”, Abberton says.
To learn more about Flexco’s digital audit app, or to book a site audit contact Flexco at technicalsupportau@flexco.com or 1300 098 435.
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