Merrill Steel Masters Operations with the Rugged X10 Tablet
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MERRILL STEEL, INC.
- Industry: Industrial
- HQ: Schofield, WI
Merrill Steel is a steel fabricator specializing in structural steel and industrial plate-work. Merrill Steel has constructed steel fabrications for commercial, industrial, and healthcare buildings, event centers, energy production facilities, and more.
Challenge
Complex Project Management Issues
Merrill Steel faced operational challenges inherent to large-scale industrial projects that require extensive coordination between teams and continuous modifications throughout the production process.
Key Pain Points:
- Documentation and order change problems meant that prior plans had become outdated, leading to costly reworks.
- Wasted materials and labor that affected delivery schedules and storage optimization, leading to unnecessary expenses.
- Manufacturing errors led to significant financial loss and rework delays, affecting project timelines and customer satisfaction.
- Friction and communication breakdowns between engineering and fabrication teams affecting morale, productivity, and quality.
Solution
Industrial-Grade Tablet Deployment
Merrill Steel selected Cybernet’s Rugged X10 computer tablets to bridge the communication gap and provide real-time access to the current project specifications.
Our Approach:
- Industrial-grade durability that could withstand dust, debris, extreme temperatures, and mishandling by staff without losing performance.
- Comprehensive damage coverage program that made replacement expenses more predictable, eliminating budget uncertainty.
- Real-time communications between different teams that synchronized teams immediately, providing live access to updated plans and reduced reliance on paper-based documentation.
Results
Operational Improvements
Since implementing the Rugged X10, Merrill Steel’s operations have experienced far fewer communication breakdowns and greater efficiency in handling materials.
Key Outcomes:
- Immediate change notifications for fabrication teams and streamlined approval and verification processes.
- Dramatic reduction in material and labor waste from outdated specifications, ensuring more efficient utilization through more accurate pull requests.
- Improved inventory accuracy and location tracking for forklift operators.
- Lower inventory carrying costs through improved material management.
- Faster project completion thanks to reduced rework cycles.
- Predictable device replacement costs improved budget forecasting.