Excluding primary practices that still prevail in most industrial companies, the evolution of MRO Materials Management Technology can be summarized in three technological waves, as shown below.

First Wave: Conventional Technology 

There are many grave technological limitations. However, in view of room limitation, I will mention just two of the most relevant and easy to understand limitations. [Read more…]

In search of excellence in MRO Materials Management (indirect materials / spare parts), I have noticed two curious facts.

First, even in developed countries, industrial companies and providers of ERPs (enterprise management systems) are technologically very backward in this specialty.

Second, those very little companies or experts who developed differentiated technology keep it safe guarded as a trade secret.

This exposure results in considerable accumulation of knowledge and expertise, and a unique set of observations and conclusions which certainly could not fail to be shared with the concerned community.  [Read more…]