ProVision Scope Kit

I manned the MCM booth at a recent tradeshow. One of the items we were exhibiting was the ProVision® Flexible Shaft Scope. It received a lot of attention from show attendees. (I could go into the difference between what men and women did with the sample when they picked it up but that’s a topic best left for another blog…Let’s just say there were differences!) Back to the scope; it received attention because it’s a handy tool. Designed for up close focusing in tight places the flexible fiber optic cable fits into holes as small as ¼” diameter. The omni-directional cable bends in every direction and has a 40° field of view. It has a high-resolution lens and a powerful halogen lamp. The scope is available with an 18” cable or a 36” cable. Each kit includes a clip-on viewing mirror, clip-on retrieval magnet, replacement halogen bulb and hard case. A 37mm camera adaptor, to connect the scope to most digital or film cameras, is available as an optional accessory.

The lens and cable are both waterproof which expands its use. Just imagine what you could do with this…look behind walls, down into drains, inside engines or hundreds of places without costly demolition or disassembly. Who could use this? Anyone: installers, mechanics, electricians, plumbers, exterminators, inspectors, home owners. My friend’s husband could have used this when she thought she dropped her earring down the drain. Instead he took the drain apart (cursing the whole time), only to discover that it wasn’t there. It had actually fallen behind the bathroom trashcan. Oops. I’m sure I don’t need to tell you how upset he was! (Most women reading this are sympathizing with my friend and the men are probably groaning…it all goes back to the differences between men and women!) The ProVision® Scope could pay for itself over and over again in reduced labor time and increased productivity.

Do you have one? If so, how do you use it? If not, what would you do with it if you had one? How could it improve your productivity? I’d like to hear your ideas. (Be creative but keep in mind that it’s not medical grade!)

Have a great day!

MCM Distribution Center

I recently had an opportunity to tour the MCM distribution Center. It’s not the first time, more like the tenth, but it never fails to impress me. The 135,000 sq. ft., fully automated facility is located in Springboro, Ohio.

The work flows in a U-shaped pattern in-to-out, throughout the warehouse. The first stop is receiving, a large area in the front of the center, where there is always a flurry of activity. When you stock over 40,000 products, there’s always shipments coming in. The goal is one-day turn around for moving products into stock and the team is right on it. The next area is bulk storage, where shelves stocked with boxes of products, soar towards the ceiling. (I’m not sure how high the shelves go but I had to count the products on the top shelf for inventory once and I can tell you that it’s HIGH!) The shelves cover almost one fourth of the facility.

On the other side of the distribution center, in the back, is where the packing of orders begins. Orders are relayed to a printer where a picker collects them and assigns each a tote. The totes progress through the warehouse on a conveyor system. The totes stop at various positions and are filled with products: the Carousels – where small products are positioned on rotating racks for easy access; Bin Storage – where mid to small size products are stored in stationary bins; Oversize Storage – where large and oversize items are kept. (I’ve left out lots of technical details but are most of you really going to miss them?) By the time products reach the end of the line the order is complete. The orders then proceed to the next area, shipping. Orders are packaged, invoiced and shipped via the customer’s selected carrier.

It’s an impressive operation carried out by a dedicated team, and I didn’t even discuss all the other things that go on there, such as quality control, returns, storage replenishment and on, and on. Did I mention that the distribution center isn’t air conditioned? (They do have large ventilation fans – WhooHoo!) It’s days like today when it’s 92° outside and I’m sitting in the comfort of my air conditioned office that I really feel for them. So kudos to the distribution center staff for all their hard work, no matter the temperature!!

Have a great day!