Moderator: Nikhil Amin, President, Trinity Logistics Group
Panel:
– Vikash Patel, Transportation & Logistics Manager, GE Energy Logistics
– Sally Chope, Transportation & Logistics Manager, Siemens
– Terrance Moore, Dir. Business Development, American Electric Power (AEP) River Operations
1:30p – Vikash Patel, GE Energy
– Quality of logistics from OEM is key in earning business
– Keys to Good Logistics Team: Controllership, Communication, Rely on Core-Compency
– Cons to using Third Party Logistics Partner: Adding Expense, Remove Margin %, Lack of Industry Knowledge, Lack of Industry Visibility.
1:45p – Sally Chope, Siemens
– Siemens blade increase in blade size has been dramatic in last 2 years.
– Logistics needs to predict future…what ever we plan for today will change by the time we have to deliver.
– Siemens owns it’s own trains specific to their blades, towers, & Nacel
– All Sold & High Probability projects need to be considered in long-term logistics plan.
– Considerations for Logistic Plans: Trains can’t be pulled up to site, so can we get big components to site with trucks or do they need to be sized down? Need & Cost of escorts or police escorts; Road & Bridge height & weight clearance.
2:00p – Terrence Moore, AEP
– Division of Columbus, OH based AEP
– Barge water logistics is third tier because they still need rail & truck transportation.
– Initial Assessment includes: Origin & Destination; Load Date; Delivery Date & Fabrication Date, Size Requirements
– Port Considerations: Dock & Pad Capacity; Crane Capacity, Lay Down Area; Perimeter Features including impediments, Rail Access, Security; Highway access; Weather/ Time of Year considerations.
– Key Benefits of Water Transportation: Safe & Secure, Environmental Friendly, 24/7 in-use and tracking, less physical impediments.
2:15p – Nikhil Amin, Trinity Logistics Group
– Manufacture of Train & Barges
– Custom Rail cars for towers and blades
– Forecast Reliability -> Sets the Plan
– Supplier Reliability -> Sets the Service Model
– Pick Up & Delivery Timeframe -> Ensures site & customer confidence
– Site Readiness to unload -> Optimizes manpower & equipment
– Optimized Equipment -> Ensures Capacity
– Performance Measurement – > Ensures Standardization
– Contingency Planning is Critical – shrinking delivery window by weather & production; Dependency of supplier/vendor, Equipment Readiness, State/Local planning
Q&A
Q1: What are logistics strategy for Windpower in remote areas?
– A1: Sally – Lots of pre-planning.
Q2: Is it possible & necessary to standardize highway codes?
-A1: Vikash – Could it be done, probably…will it, probably not. Wind could push for similar exception as mobile homes, where they can travel nationwide without restrictions of most logistic regulations from state & local.
Q3: As Wind Turbine grow to larger sizes, how are you innovating logistic systems?
– A1: Sally – we actually try to stay ahead of curve through the companies innovation. Heading to Europe next week to work with a new product that is so large it is currently unable to be railed.
Q4: As Off-shore grows how important is it to colocate with projects?
– A1: Terrance – AEP is inland based so AEP barges won’t currently work for off-shore except for Great Lakes but there certainly are ship and barge options for this transportation.
– A2: Vikash – need to be ready to break units into smaller pieces at port and put back together onsite offshore
Filed Under: Towers, Turbines
