A cross-functional, multi-disciplined team that focuses on MRO issues is a must.

MRO inventory management is too often thought of as just a storeroom function. In reality, it is a horizontal, cross-functional activity involving maintenance, operations, capital projects, procurement, and stores.

At PCA we promote what is referred to as an MRO Focus Team. This team consists of personnel from accounting, maintenance, maintenance planning, manufacturing, capital projects, purchasing, reliability, and the storeroom who represent their function’s concerns with parts availability and storeroom service levels. The team often meets on a regularly scheduled basis to discuss and resolve these cross-functional materials management issues.

The key to a successful MRO Focus Team is facility management’s support.

The meetings are not lengthy, fifteen minutes to half-an-hour. No more than three issues should be on the active agenda at any one time. Anyone in the facility should be able to bring an issue to the team through their representative. When an issue is put on the agenda, a team member is appointed to investigate the issue with all affected stakeholders and recommend a solution to take back to the MRO Focus Team. The team may accept and implement the recommendation as presented, or determine what further actions may be required to resolve the situation. In either case, problems don’t go unresolved.