Midwest Business Consulting is proud to offer clients a unique and in-depth expertise in the design, installation and operation of large-scale, fully-automated conveyance and electro-mechanical, hydraulic and pneumatic material handling systems in Chicago, IL. We have participated on projects large and small, ranging from $150K to $42.5M. We have served as an integral part of several projects from conceptual design to systems commissioning and onto overseeing the day-to-day Operation and Maintenance (O&M) of those systems.
MBC’s diverse range of participation and experience offers clients the unique value of a 360⁰ solution - from maintenance considerations to contingency planning and safety, trust the professionals at MBC to support your project and help your team assess the true impact of design decisions. Some of the material handling consulting services MBC offers include:
- Feasibility Studies & Repair / Replacement Analyses
- Project Planning / Project Management
- Owner’s Representative Services
- Project Closeout, Punchlist Oversight, Commissioning and Warranty Fulfillment
- O&M Unit Planning & Training
- Maintenance Programs Development & Optimization
Feasibility Studies & Repair / Replacement Analyses
As new regulations place added pressure on margins and markets become more competitive, the competition for investment dollars has also heated up to unprecedented levels. In response, an increasing number of companies are turning to repair / replacement analyses and financial feasibility studies to determine the value of proposed capital improvement projects and maximize returns on investments. The MBC Team consists of a network of seasoned project management professionals who are highly adept at analyzing business needs determining project scope and objectively preparing technical and financial feasibility studies. These assessments often involve developing a firm understanding of current infrastructure and working closely with key stakeholders to arrive at an agreed upon scope of operational needs and wants. With that starting point identified, MBC can evaluate current equipment for condition, operating and maintenance costs and effectiveness in meeting the company’s mission.
MBC will work with respective OEMs, vendors and industry professionals to develop alternatives for repair/upgrade of the existing systems and contrast those options with full or partial replacement alternatives. We work with project sponsors to understand available capital improvement budgets and develop preliminary assessments of the proposed project's technical and financial requirements, associated risks, and an estimation of the project's costs and anticipated Return on Investment.
With a detailed cost benefit analysis in hand, business owners can rest assured they’re choosing the best solution for their respective operations.
Project Planning / Project Management
MBC maintains a close-knit network of PMI Certified Project Management Professionals and Subject Matter Experts in various industries and business sectors to provide our clients with unrivaled agility that allows us to rapidly mobilize project teams to assist you on the most delicate of projects. Our PMs have experience managing projects ranging from $30K to $30M and operate in a variety of specialties. We will work closely with your stakeholder group to develop the appropriate project strategies to ensure all Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are met on time and on budget.
The project management profession maintains that a vast majority of projects 'fail during planning phase'. Experienced project sponsors are well aware of the axiom that proper planning results in lower costs, higher quality and ultimately higher stakeholder satisfaction - nowhere is this more true in Material Handling than when considering capital improvement and infrastructure projects.
The highly complex realm of managing capital improvement projects often intertwines sponsors with a variety of stakeholders from various business sectors including, subject matter experts, skilled trades, regulatory agencies and product vendors. This wide range of roles brings with it a wide range of interests and motives - improperly planned projects which lack clear direction, constraints and protections will undoubtedly face an uphill battle with schedule delays, fluid scopes and cost overages.
At Midwest Business Consulting, project planning and management is what we do - this philosophy permeates every aspect of our business model. We bring the proper PMI-certified Project Management Professionals together on a project-by-project basis to meet client goals at the best possible cost. The result is quality projects delivered on schedule, on scope and on budget.
Owner’s Representative Services
Irrespective of scope, project owners must maintain a diligent watch over project activities to ensure execution proceeds according to the project plan. In light of recent consolidation trends which have left most managers heavily taxed, the time required to take on additional project-related responsibilities just isn't there. As skilled owner's representatives, let Midwest Business Consulting be your trusted project delegate.
You can count on MBC to provide highly experienced personnel to watch over your interests, protect your investments and advise on and/or make those mission-critical business decisions on your behalf. Unlike a general contractor whose foremost responsibility is to their employer, an owner's representative is an extension of the owner and solely represents the owner's interests. Our Team will work closely with the stakeholder group to establish the project scope required to meet business goals and draft an effective project plan to ensure the desired outcomes are achieved. Whatever your business needs, trust MBC to serve as your project advisors.
Project Closeout, Punchlist Oversight, Commissioning and Warranty Fulfillment
As experienced Project Management Professionals specializing the procurement, installation, mobilization and maintenance of industrial equipment and material handling systems, trust the professionals at MBC to ensure your project requirements have been fulfilled and project goals are effectively met. We will work with your stakeholder group to fully assess the project deliverables and Key Performance Indicators to verify that contractors are fully delivering on scope as contractually agreed to. We’ll also make certain that a detailed punchlist is developed, acknowledged and completed prior to project closeout and final payment.
In addition to our background as project managers, operations management lies at the core of our service offering. Founded by a former naval missile systems technician, MBC maintains a focus on the anticipated day-to-day operations and maintenance of equipment /systems throughout the project planning process. Put the MBC Team to work on your project today to scrutinize project plans for inadequately defined deliverables and ensure that the needs of the operations team, often overlooked in project planning, are thoroughly planned for and represented. We’ll review drawings for maintenance issues and ensure sufficient training is planned for and a well-planned transition strategy is developed. As the project nears transition, we’ll act as a liaison between the project team, the operations group, maintenance staff and end users to ensure all parties are trained, tools, equipment and spare parts are on site and the project is prepared to successfully transition to daily operations.
Last but certainly not least – we’ll assist maintenance teams in developing an effective warranty fulfillment program. With estimated first year costs ranging between 3% and 11% of the contract value, project owners can’t afford to overlook warranty fulfillment. We’ll assess warranty requirements, ensure systems turn over documentation is complete, accurately note DBO dates, and ensure procedures are developed and followed to comply with reporting and part return requirements.
O&M Unit Planning & Training
With a background in building best-in-class business models, MBC has in-depth experience building highly-successful O&M operations. MBC specializes in Operations Management, Continuous Improvement, and Business Process Re-engineering. We understand the challenges and pitfalls facing operations managers and maintenance teams in today's highly competitive and often litigious environment. Whatever your business needs, Midwest Business Consulting can help. We're experts at developing new operations, assessing existing operations for waste and vulnerabilities and implementing practical and cost-effective solutions to mitigate problems, neutralize threats and capitalize on both realized and unrealized opportunities. MBC is well versed in helping companies of all sizes assess strengths and weaknesses in current operations and map out well-defined strategies to exploit opportunities and overcome weaknesses.
While significant portions of our methods are transferrable and scalable, we acknowledge the age-old adage, "If you've seen one operation… you've seen one operation" – let the experts at Midwest Business Consulting help tailor your O&M model to the exact needs of your operation. Some of the services we offer include;
- O&M Mobilization & Strategy Deployment
- Staffing Models
- Training & Staff Development
- Preventive Maintenance Systems (PMS) Programs Development & Deployment
- Effective Corrective Maintenance Ticketing Systems
- Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS) Implementation, Data Migration, Managerial Oversight & Effective Reporting
- Effective Records Management for warranty, legal and insurance purposes
- LOTO Training
Maintenance Programs Development & Optimization
The MBC Team has vast experience planning, mobilizing, and managing a wide range of mission-critical Operation and Maintenance (O&M) divisions, optimizing existing maintenance and facilities management operations, mobilizing Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CCMS), and developing and deploying effective operating plans. The benefits of an optimized maintenance operation are myriad and include reduced operating costs and downtimes, optimized preventive maintenance schedules and inventories, efficient storage and retrieval of information to support management decisions and effective insulation from costly litigation.
Midwest Business Consulting specializes in developing and optimizing equipment maintenance programs in Chicago, IL. Our systems have been developed and fine-tuned for more than a decade and bring together the thoroughness of US Military maintenance inspection programs with the present-day budget and operating constraints of the commercial aviation industry. Some of the 'low hanging fruit' of efficient maintenance programs include reduced inventories, streamlined Preventive Maintenance Systems, effective maintenance ticketing systems, lower operating costs, improved equipment uptime, extended equipment lifetimes, fewer employee injuries and lowered insurance / legal expenses.
Whether your operation is mature or in the planning phase, trust the expert staff at MBC to assist in evaluating your maintenance operations and developing or revalidating your operating and contingency plans to ensure that your service department or contractor is maximizing the value of your maintenance budget. MBC is pleased to offer unparalleled consulting services for all aspects of equipment lifecycles including procurement, installation/mobilization and operations and maintenance.
Call Midwest Business Consulting today to learn more about material handling consulting in Chicago, IL.
