AUSTRALASIAN MINE SAFETY JOURNAL / Summer 2015 / www.amsj.com.au38

F rom humble beginnings as the convenient home of snacks and drinks, the vending machine has revolutionised the way

we can access products without human interaction; at any time of the day or night. the vending solutions concept has in recent years sparked a particularly ingenious movement in industries where having the right stock on hand is imperative to business continuity. Mining is one of these. On a remote site, there are ubiquitous challenges that accompany the stock management of personal protective equipment (PPE) and other vital safety supplies. this includes ensuring workers are able to access what they need, when they need it.

Staples Vending Solutions has identified several benefits to an automated stock management system, and can design and provide the right one for the needs of any mining operation. When it comes to how a vending solution can help protect your people and improve productivity, there are some topline details anyone tasked with site safety responsibilities should know.

Hands off. taking human interaction out of the equation eliminates human error,

while allowing staff to focus their efforts in other areas. An automated vending solution fully integrates back to Staples’ systems, to automate the whole process. Focus on your business, not product ordering. Delivery is taken care of too, with top-ups automatically triggered upon reaching agreed stock levels.

Waste not. Implementation of a secure and controlled solution encourages employees to use only what they need, while reducing theft. On the flipside, vending solutions can realise reduced procurement costs through web-based software intelligence, which minimises product duplication and inventory wastage.

Clued up. Organisations can more easily meet their procurement goals with access to a selection of more than 200 reports, allowing complete visibility over stock movement. Check current stock on hand, projected usage, user-specific consumption, item-specific consumption, or a myriad of other functions that can help reduce spend and allow workers to complete their day-to-day tasks more safely.

On call. the Staples Vending Solutions team partners directly with organisations to provide

full support including training, implementation and troubleshooting. It’s easy to focus on other important aspects of your job knowing that the technical side of the solution is all taken care of.

Right there. Automated vending solutions can house just about any items needed at the chosen site - big or small. the machines can be installed at multiple locations across an operation, so that the stock is always close to the action.

When you’re ready to remove the headache from stock management, Staples will work closely with your organisation to develop a customised machine and software package that meets the unique safety needs of your mine site. In addition, Staples stocks more than 25,000 safety supplies to complete the solution and make Australian workplaces safer, including personal protective equipment, apparel, first aid and visual warning products. through partnerships with industry-leading manufacturers, Staples is proud to offer the newest products, latest innovations and trusted brands that meet required safety standards.

Vending for themselvesChanging the face of day-to-day safety equipment access is the vending machine’s ability to empower workers while eliminating the troubles of traditional stock management.

BUSINESS FOCUS ON

SITE MANAGEMENT

head to safety.staples.com.au to find out more about Staples’ innovative automated stock management solutions or call 1300 676 200.