The Maintenance Services Division of leading lifting services provider, Morris Material Handling, is actively promoting a new and invaluable managed service that is being rolled out across all industry sectors here in the UK.

Branded 'AIMS' (Asset Inspection Management System), the service has been created to help customers radically reduce risk associated with potential load failures. Developed by Morris' inhouse team of IT specialists working in conjunction with maintenance services, AIMS uses the latest in hand-held technology as a means of accurately identifying all lifting equipment, be it overhead cranes or below the hook across all site premises.

Comments Pat Campbell, operations director, maintenance services at Morris Material Handling: "Having successfully trialled the new AIMS system with a number of our key customers, we have taken the decision to actively promote its use amongst both our entire customer base and prospects. AIMS is a highly-effective tool and one that serves to ensure that accident risk associated with defective items of lifting equipment is kept to an absolute minimum. This achievement is primarily delivered through the efficiency of the reporting that the system delivers, and its subsequent ability to schedule the management process required to rectify items of non-compliance.

"Furthermore, AIMS serves to reduce the potential of incidence associated with lifting equipment failure through the speed of identification of potentially problematic or defective items, thereby providing complete peace of mind for the customer. This is ultimately achieved as a result of the speed with which current reportable data is supplied following an inspection visit. In essence, under the AIMS system, the prime focus is always on prevention rather than cure." he added.

HOW IT WORKS

Deployed by Morris Material Handling's team of LEEA trained technical support engineers, the service initially involves the compilation of an equipment register or asset database that covers all equipment to be inspected. Once collected, this information is stored on Morris' own central IT system database that is Microsoft driven.

With the register in place, which then forms the working base from which all future inspections are carried out, the condition of each item of lifting or below the hook equipment listed is entered onto palm-top technology. This current reported information is then up-loaded to the equipment register database, delivering an extremely efficient method for data transfer.

And it is here that AIMS really comes into its own, as the database provides a very efficient method of identifying both defective items and any required corrective actions that are necessary. At this point, AIMS has the capacity to detail specific reports that immediately identify items that require repair or which cannot be found, and those that should be taken out of service following the inspection visit. Such is the sophistication of reporting that AIMS can deliver, it is also possible to output copies of Certificates Of Thorough Examination for compliance with the LOLER98 regulations, as and when required. However the system in itself offers the ability of providing a paperless reporting system.

COLOUR CODING

In order to further reduce the incidence of accident risk from potential load failure, during an AIMS inspection visit every single item of lifting equipment is colour coded for the relevant inspection period, thereby making it immediately identifiable to personnel that it is safe to use. Should any item be located displaying a colour other than that of the current inspection period it should be removed from use until inspected again.

As Pat Campbell states: "Perhaps the single biggest benefit that AIMS delivers is the speed with which information can be relayed through to a client following an inspection visit. Under normal circumstances, we aim to forward full and comprehensive inspection results typically within five working of any visit to our clients' premises nationally."

So in summation, using AIMS, Morris Material Handling is able to offer customers a fully managed service when it comes to reducing the risk associated with potential load failures. For as well as identifying defective items, Morris also has the capabilities to oversee full repair and maintenance work, shifting the onus away from the customer from having to do so themselves.

Anyone interested in exploring the benefits that AIMS can deliver should contact Morris Material Handling's Maintenance Services Division.