Date:12/09/2010

Invest 60 seconds in…Lower Cost of Ownership

These days it is about making the most with what you have. Many buying decisions get put off for a sunnier day, but there are times when dock & door equipment has simply reached the end of its lifespan. In these cases it is wisest to consider lower cost of ownership (LCO) rather than just price in your replacement decisions.

The best way to think about LCO is to ask yourself, “What will owning that new piece of equipment cost the company beyond its purchase price?”

DURABILITY
The right equipment choices are partly determined by the frequency and type of use. These factors translate into the equipment durability factors.

The choices for dock levelers include mechanical, air-powered and hydraulic versions as well as various mounting positions – in a pit, to the dock floor, or to the loading platform curb. Each variation has its own benefits and issues that must be considered. Generally, a good investment is an additional 10,000 lbs of leveler capacity beyond what is calculated for the operation as it is impossible to predict how requirements may change in the future.

There are an array of manual and powered truck restraint designs each with the ability to secure a vehicle. However, with the variety of ways to capture the rear impact guard or restrain a vehicle’s wheels, consideration must be given to the various types of trucks that pull up to a dock.

For both products, the variety of solutions makes talking with an expert on dock leveler and restraint alternatives most beneficial to understanding your LCO.

ENERGY SAVINGS
LCO also means finding reductions in other areas of the operation budget. When a truck is at the dock, thousands of HVAC dollars can be lost if the gap between the trailer and the dock wall is not sealed.

Perhaps the most vulnerable part of the dock equipment mix are dock seals . For high traffic volume you should consider units with steel framing and seals designed for a longer life span.

Dock doors can also be a crucial source for energy savings. For starters, you must choose between insulated and non-insulated doors. However, dock doors also take their share of abuse from forklifts. For most doors, the addition of flexible bottom door panels will ensure that a doorway is continually covered. For other doorways, fully impactable dock doors necessary because of heavy usage and abuse. They are very cost-effective and prevent energy loss as they can be reset within seconds when impacted by a forklift.

PLANNED MAINTENANCE
Anticipating the upkeep costs for the equipment is perhaps one of the most effective measures of LCO. This ties directly into product quality and preventive maintenance programs.

Buying reputable brands is often the wisest decision as reputation is often tied to quality. Preventive maintenance comes down to three areas:

1- Inspecting a piece of equipment typically means one has a trained eye and knows what he is looking for.

2- Lubrication is crucial to dock equipment performance. Some dock levelers can have up to 30 lubrication points to maintain.

3- Cleaning goes beyond appearance. Pieces of pallets or loose nails can puncture hydraulic hoses and seize a piece of equipment.

If you don’t have trained maintenance on staff, investing in a Planned Maintenance program with an outside vendor can make the most sense towards optimizing your LCO.

The Bottom Line: When you absolutely must part with budget dollars for a new piece of equipment, and your manager asks you why you didn’t go with the cheapest product, you can reply “Lower Cost of Ownership is the key.”

McKinley’s loading dock experts will provide you with a free assessment of your dock & door equipment needs to help you determine your LCO. Please call us to set an appointment.