Blog
Ship Inventory Management
August 23, 2024
Antonino Maione, Technical Account Manager
The Importance of Efficient Inventory Management in the Maritime Industry
Search “how important is good inventory management in the maritime industry” and you’ll see words like critical, vital, and essential dominating the results. That’s because effective inventory management is the backbone of maintaining machinery like ocean-going vessels, ensuring they run smoothly, safely, and efficiently.
However, managing spare parts inventory for a vessel presents unique challenges. Space constraints aboard ships, unpredictable port schedules, and complexities within the supply chain make it a daunting task. Add to that the varying priorities of the individuals involved, and the result is often an inventory system riddled with inefficiencies.
The Human Factor in Maritime Inventory Management
Inventory management in shipping isn’t just about spare parts—it’s about the people managing them:
- Ship Owners prioritize fleet efficiency with an emphasis on cost savings.
- Purchase Managers focus on securing the best deals during RFQs and often request additional discounts.
- Superintendents cut requests, sometimes overlooking on-board requirements.
- Chief Engineers compensate by over-requesting spares to avoid shortages.
- Engine Officers monitor machinery and are accountable for maintenance and spare availability.
This lack of alignment makes maintaining accurate inventory records nearly impossible. For example, locating a critical spare like a fuel injection pump may involve figuring out its cost, understanding vessel requirements, and finding its actual storage location—all while ensuring it’s undamaged and ready for use.
How AMOS Simplifies Inventory Management
To overcome these challenges, companies must choose between relying on individual accountability or investing in robust inventory management software like AMOS.
AMOS, backed by a team of industry experts, meets the needs of every stakeholder in the supply chain by offering:
- Real-Time Inventory Insights
- View stock quantities across the fleet.
- Check interchangeability of spares between vessels.
- Advanced Inventory Controls
- Create a hierarchical location structure for spares.
- Automate requisitions based on stock replenishment levels.
- Forecast spare requirements and costs for budgeting.
- Mobile and Web Tools for Flexibility
- Use AMOS Mobile for barcode/QR code inventory updates.
- Approve requisitions on the go with AMOS Web Approval.
- Move spares between vessels using AMOS Web Inventory.
- Data-Driven Decisions
- Analyze historical data using the AMOS Data Surface Module to identify repetitive and high-cost spares over time.
The Benefits of AMOS
With AMOS, ship operators can streamline inventory management, improve efficiency, and make better decisions. From registering spares to forecasting future needs, AMOS ensures every part of the process is optimized.
Can it deliver critical spares to vessels before an unexpected failure? Not yet—but it’s already making waves in simplifying inventory management and ensuring smoother maritime operations.
- Know the current stock quantity of a single spare part for the entire fleet and the interchangeability of spares between vessels.
- Register spares, receive materials and update the inventory using barcodes/QR codes.
- On the move? approving vessel requisition is simple with AMOS Web Approval.
- Use AMOS Web Inventory to check the fleet for a specific spare and move it between vessels.
- Need historic data? AMOS Data Surface module can tell you the most repetitive and expensive spare you’ve had to buy over the last 5 years (example)
In conclusion
As we’ve demonstrated, using a proven asset management system like AMOS puts all the data you need at your fingertips, streamlines the entire process and keeps you up to date to make better informed decisions. It has the ability to make life easier for everyone down the supply chain, whatever their role, and keep your entire operation running smoothly.
Can it get critical spares to vessels 3 days before an unexpected failure? Not yet, but we’re working on it…