Operational Excellence Initiative Teams continue to identify opportunities on campus to improve the ordering and delivery processes associated with commonly purchased custodial items—trash can liners, hand soap and cleaning supplies—and streamline inventory management for making the processes more efficient and effective.
The University is partnering with Grainger as a single-source provider for cleaning and industrial supplies.
After a benchmarking and comprehensive request for proposal process, beginning this month the University will partner with Grainger as a single-source provider for cleaning and industrial supplies used by Physical Plant and FixIt. Using the existing eProcurement system, supplies and products will now be ordered on demand and be delivered directly to locations around campus, reducing inventory and eliminating the need for a multi-step delivery and sorting process that is less efficient.
There are multiple benefits to the University for adopting this new system, including the consolidation of supplies and products, decreased inventory space, fewer delivery vehicles on campus and reduced landfill waste. This program will also result in a more comprehensive spending analytics from Grainger and a better understanding of product volume, replacement needs and adjusting products that are more frequently used on a “hot list.”
“By adopting a total inventory solutions approach, we’ll be able to enhance Physical Plant and FixIt service, improve delivery times and reduce waste on campus,” says Pete Sala, vice president and chief campus facilities officer. “Grainger’s best-in-class strategies will help us consolidate our supply list, improve ordering processes to keep our facilities up and running, and enhance our ability to manage costs.”
New Hand Dryers Reduce Waste and Save Money
Electric hand dryers will be installed in campus bathrooms beginning this semester to replace paper towel dispensers, thereby reducing environmental waste. According to an Operational Excellence Initiative Team analysis, the estimated annual savings is approximately $120 for each towel dispenser that gets replaced. With nearly 1,100 hand dryers on campus, this savings is expected to reach nearly $130,000.
Ray Kowalski
“The hand dryers selected by our committee help achieve LEED certification in new and remodeled buildings,” says Ray Kowalski, team leader and facilities manager. “Our estimates show that converting to hand dryers will save approximately 50 tons of paper towels each year. This is a win for the University.”
Members of the facilities and supplies initiative team include:
For more information, contact Director of Purchasing Doug Freeman at 315-443-2038 or dfreema@syr.edu.
