Port of Los Angeles Retains LA Consulting to Implement Maintenance Management System
LA Consulting Inc. has been awarded a contract from the Port of Los Angeles to implement a Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS). Harry Lorick, P.E., LA Consulting president, made the announcement. The project started in June 2008.
The Port of Los Angeles, operated by the Harbor Department of the city of Los Angeles, comprises 43 miles of waterfront and about 7,500 acres of land and water. It is the busiest port in the U.S. and 13th busiest container port in the world. More than $230 billion worth of cargo moves through the port every year. This trade supports 3.3 million jobs nationwide, with 919,000 jobs in southern California alone, generating more than $39 billion in wages and tax revenues.
LA Consulting recently completed an extensive management audit that evaluated maintenance operations and identified opportunities to improve port operations. All assets were evaluated, some of which include roads, sewer and storm water lines, traffic signs, traffic markings, water and irrigation lines, 218 landscaping locations, 852 catch basins, 29 emergency generators, three storm water pump stations and nine sewer pump stations.
“By implementing a state-of-the-art CMMS, the port will achieve integration of business practices, improve work efficiencies by using activity-based costing, develop work schedules and designate daily work activities, plan work, develop budget and resource needs and better organize and maintain records,” said a port spokesperson. “This effort will address nearly 75 percent of LA Consulting’s 54 audit recommendations.”
Other critical recommendations, according to the port, include establishing clear performance goals and measures; refocusing on employee recruitment, retention and retraining, including the hiring of a training officer; educating senior city management of the unique requirements of port operations and staff; enhancing and expanding collaboration with unions; filling long-vacant supervision positions; monitoring worker’s compensation amounts; and establishing performance goals to meet the effort. Several of these recommendations have already been implemented or initiated and will directly benefit construction and maintenance operations.
Implementation of the above and a series of other recommendations (the other 25 percent) will result in cost savings of $1 million to $2 million per year.
Source: LA Consulting Inc.