BARRY'S PLUMBING

Barry's Plumbing Case Study



Barry's Plumbing Case Study

Executive Summary (2 marks)

This report provides a technology based management solution for Barry's Plumbing, a 24 hour emergency plumbing company for strata managed apartments. The company faces problems in the areas of warehouse to site communication, stock management of repair items, tradesmen payroll and timing, and data accuracy issues contributing to false billing and service. The report provides feasibility of each of the proposed solution using whatever information is given under the case. When put to practice, these solutions would enhance the company's operational and financial situations and provide better customer service. The report begins with the case overview to establish the context of the problems and solutions given in the report. Following it, problems have been categorised and briefed. The proposed solutions are given in a separate section that highlights the objectives of the solution and the expected benefits of putting the solution into practice. The report also has sections of development plans, potential solutions, and recommendations as to how these solutions could be effectively implemented in improving the company's business.

Barry's Plumbing Case Overview

Barry's Plumbing (BP) is a 24 hour emergency plumbing company for strata managed apartments. BP provides emergency plumbing repairs of all types (sewerage, burst pipes, leaks, etc). They do not do new installations unless it is to replace an existing installation. BP has a head office at Campsie in Sydney with branch offices at Kotara in Newcastle and Morningside in Brisbane.

BP has a fleet of 26 vehicles in Sydney, 7 in Newcastle and 12 in Brisbane. Each vehicle has only 1 tradesman with it and that tradesman must make sure that the vehicle is always fully stocked with typical repair items and consumables such as solder, gas, etc. Each branch office has a comprehensive warehouse attached to it with a warehouse manager and a complete inventory of typical repair items.

BP has 105 clients (Strata Managers) which accounts for 370 apartment buildings and 38,850 apartments. BP has a contractual requirement to respond to an emergency callout with 45 minutes and have penalties which can be applied for each 15 minutes the tradesman is late. Currently all communications within the company and with clients is by phone, SMS or fax.

Tradesmen are paid based on timesheets submitted with the job details. Tradesmen work a 12 hour shift, however if a tradesman works longer than their 12 hour shift they receive a penalty rate of 20% above their normal rate. Tradesmen submit a list of materials used for each job completed along with their timesheet.

The materials list plus the timesheet date are used to bill the customer for the work done. Billing is done from the Sydney head office and is processed fortnightly. Historically there are approximately 100 jobs per week with an average cost an average cost of $500 per job.

Description of the problem (5 marks)

The problems faced by Barry's Plumbing fall into three areas: Communication, Warehouse Stock management and tradesman payroll and work management (Janczewski et al ...