Excavating Excellence: Heavy-Duty Solutions for Berry Tractor

Berry Tractor, a heavy equipment manufacturer, faced challenges with disorganized hydraulic hose and fitting areas, insufficient inventory, and wasted time and money on external hose production. MSC implemented its ControlPoint® VMI solution at Berry Tractor, organizing their hydraulic hose and fitting areas, optimizing inventory levels, and eliminating the need for external hose production, thereby saving time and money.

Overview

Berry Tractor, headquartered in Wichita, KS, provides top quality construction equipment, supported by four repair facilities, field service capabilities, expert mechanics, and a very large parts inventory. Berry Tractor has four locations throughout Kansas and Southwest Missouri.

They carry a broad range of equipment including wheel loaders, excavators, articulated trucks, rigid frame trucks, many types of compactors, asphalt and concrete pavers, construction brooms, material, and equipment trailers.

Berry Tractor sells such brands as Komatsu, BOMAG, Terex Cedarapids, Gomaco, Gradall, Superior Broom, Trail King, Telesmith, Mauldin, Montabert/Tramac and Hensley to name a few.

Get more information about ControlPoint® VMI Solutions at mscdirect.com/solutions/vmi-solutions

Challenge

IDENTIFIED TIME AND COST SAVING OPPORTUNITIES

Hydraulic hose and fitting areas were disorganized
Limited assortment and insufficient inventory on-hand
Techs wasted time going to the local hose shop to have hoses made
Company was wasting money having the hoses made externally

Solution

IMPLEMENTED CONTROLPOINT VMI SOLUTION

Identified appropriate hose fittings to optimize inventory assortment
Implemented color-coded system to easily identify matching die ring to hose fitting
Engaged Parker Hannifin for training, crimper, dies and storage bins at no charge
Implemented a bi-weekly MSC VMI specialist visit

Results

EFFICIENCIES INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY

Improved productivity by eliminating time wasted searching for matching die rings to hose fittings
Eliminated techs from leaving the plant to get hoses made externally
Right-sized inventory and VMI specialist keeps the right parts on-hand

Continous Improvement

“The benefit we see from having our hydraulic fittings managed with MSC’s VMI solution is that we are able to get the hoses we need quicker and cheaper. When we need a hose, we need it NOW and don’t have time to waste to run down the street and wait in line to get a hose made. I can’t be more pleased. This solution is working fabulously!”

Paul Dow, Parts Manager

Customer