Power Movers Archives

DoD Service Contract Program Change is on a Slow Track

Government Procurement Drives Demand for Industrial Handling Solutions

In January 2016, the Department of Defense instituted a policy aimed at streamlining their services contracting with better oversight and control. While the new policy is expected to make the process more cohesive, it may take another dozen years before coming to full fruition.

“A 15-Year Effort”

More than half of the Department’s procurement budget is allocated to services, with the remainder for purchases such as contract equipment. According to Ken Brennan, deputy director of services acquisition, the goal is for contracts to become part of “the general culture and policy” rather than standalones.

In Brennan’s view, the new policy is “a 15-year effort” that is already about three years along. Brennan adds that is making significant progress, and he anticipates potential for guidance soon in the areas of small businesses and administrative services.

Functional Domain Experts

One major change involves the creation of functional domain experts, or FDEs, to lead each of the individual service sectors. Claire Grady, director of defense procurement and acquisition strategy, explains that this lets people with particular expertise create strategies to improve planning and execution while reducing costs.

FDEs will also implement metrics to monitor contract performance, determine best practices and recommend policies. Grady says will be paying close attention to the metrics established by these new domain leaders.

Military and Material Handling Solutions

DJ Products offers quality options for contract equipment. Our battery-powered tugs and movers handle applications like maneuvering aircraft in and out of hangars and pulling heavy engines and parts. Visit our website to have your questions answered online by one of our knowledgeable sales engineers.

There’s a Better Way to Move Them – Powered Dumpster Movers

The Perfect Thing to Help Move That Trash

Often weighing several tons, moving a waste dumpster presents a challenging task for any employee. Lost days and compensation claims make injuries a treacherous task for any business.

The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries provides a scientific view of waste collection ergonomics. Their report outlines the risk factors of musculoskeletal injuries likely to occur from handling dumpsters manually:

Pushing or pulling dumpsters into position is the major risk factor for loading dumpsters onto forklifts or into position for collection trucks. Uneven ground, inclines, or wet/icy conditions make this even more dangerous.

Manual lifting and twisting create strain on the neck and back.

Throwing heavy items or carrying heavy loads at awkward arm angles creates additional injury risk to the neck, shoulders and arms.

Mechanical devices reduce these injury risks for workers. Investing in battery-powered dumpster movers can quickly repay itself with worker health, fewer missed days, lower risk of workers compensation claims, and overall efficiency on a daily basis.

My employees are tough. Do I really need dumpster movers?

Some employees can move heavy dumpsters some of the time. However, anyone can become injured when exerting strenuous force on a repetitive basis. Push-and-pull labor causes upper body injuries gradually, not just from one accident.

Dumpster movers also help your entire workforce perform more efficiently. Virtually anyone can operate a battery-powered dumpster caddy. With the push of a button, the worker can simply walk along and steer the dumpster easily.

Avoid the devastating costs of major employee injuries and boost your staff’s productivity with powered dumpster movers. Talk to DJ Products today about the WasteCaddy and other motorized tug solutions.

US Navy Signs on the Dotted Line on $4.3 Billion Aircraft Carrier Deal

To the shock of some financial observers, the U.S. Navy has agreed to terms for a second Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier from Huntington Ingalls. The contractor is the Navy’s only source for nuclear-powered carriers.

The construction of the first ship (in a planned four-ship series) has ballooned in costs beyond congressional expectations. Total price tags have been estimated at around $14 billion. This second ship, to be named the USS John F. Kennedy, has been commissioned with contracts totaling $4.3 billion. The price tag will grow, but Navy leadership stands by a current estimate of $11.5 billion or less.

High Costs to Keep Navy’s Aircraft Carriers Afloat

The Department of Defense has already spent nearly $5 billion on R&D for the Ford class. With the design and planning largely taken care of, the Navy decided to forge ahead with the additional carriers.

The Navy has been operating with fewer than the congressionally mandated 11 aircraft carriers it must employ. Despite calls for smaller or fewer carriers, military leadership has decided to go the current route — enormous, nuclear-powered carriers with a variety of advanced features. Following the retirement of a carrier in 2014, the two new Ford-class ships will bring the Navy’s total number of carriers back to 11.

The Navy can employ GSA-approved equipment to help streamline operations on aircraft carriers. Military and DoD truck and trailer moving vehicles can help move and relocate aircraft, transport maintenance carts, and haul heavy tanks of jet fuel around an aircraft carrier.

For more info on military and DoD truck and trailer moving and other GSA equipment solutions, visit DJProducts.com.

Management by Walking Around – Can It Help Improve Warehouse Productivity?

Warehouse managers often overlook the many benefits walking around can have on productivity. If you are writing a movie and want the boss portrayed as arrogant, out of touch, and the villain, put him in a glass-walled office that looks down on employees and keep him there. But to be the best manager you can be in the real world, interact with people and see what they are facing firsthand.

Frequent walks around your warehouse benefit in many ways:

Identify bottlenecks- When you get an up close perspective of the day to day operations, you can more easily identify areas that could be improved by automation and industrial power movers.

Improved awareness- There is no denying that employees are more conscious and mindful of following proper procedures and maintaining quality when the boss is nearby.

Improved trust- It is much easier for employees to trust you when they get to know who your really are and do not have misconceptions about you. By interacting with them naturally, you remove barriers to open communication.

More accountability- Agreements that are made in person and conversations that take place one-on-one are more meaningful. Everyone is more likely to follow through when you interact with your team members on a daily basis.

More openness- When people feel comfortable, they are more like to express ideas. Some of their ideas can really be creative and beneficial.

To discuss ways our line of material movers and cart pullers can improve both the safety and efficiency in your warehouse, call 800.686.2651 to speak with one of your knowledgeable and courteous sales engineers today.

Your Job and Low Back Pain

If you’re reading this, the odds are that you’ve either experienced low back pain or you will sometime in the future. Low back pain is the leading cause of work-related disability and a frequent reason for job absences. It’s also the second most common neurological disorder in the United States, behind only headaches.

These injuries frequently occur on the job because one of the main causes is lifting heavy objects, particularly over a period of time. This can result in a sprain or spasm in one of the back muscles or ligaments. Minor injury such as this often improves after a short period of rest.

More serious problems occur when your back is subject to repeated stress. This can result in a bulging or ruptured disc which in turn places pressure on a nerve. Irritation of the nerves is what causes the pain. If this pain becomes chronic, the situation can continue to deteriorate and work activities become increasingly difficult. Repeated injury also causes buildup of scar tissue which makes the back less flexible.

Material handling jobs involve conditions that can easily result in lower back pain. If your work involved moving large carts and other equipment, material handling tugs like our Power Tugger will help prevent injury. They enable one person to easily handle loads of up to 10,000 pounds. Ergonomic design means they also place less stress on your upper body.

Whatever your material handling needs are, DJ Products has a solution that fits. Our Sales Engineers are standing by at 800.686.2651 to answer any of your questions.

New CartCaddyHD Power Movers pulls and pushes loads up to 50,000 lbs

DJ Products, Inc. is the world leader in providing battery-powered power movers and assist tugs (cart mover) to the manufacturing, hospital, and retail industries. They provide solutions that eliminate the pains and strains associated with manually pushing heavy carts and wheeled equipment, or are less costly, smaller, and more maneuverable then traditional equipment like forklifts and pallet jacks that are not designed to push or pull wheeled carts and equipment.

Continue reading “New CartCaddyHD Power Movers pulls and pushes loads up to 50,000 lbs”

Tag: Power Movers