APAC-Mississippi/Tennessee employees create innovative solutions to improve operations.
At APAC-Mississippi/Tennessee, we are committed to safety, quality, integrity and environmental stewardship. And in everything we do, our goal is to deliver top-tier operational performance and provide effective solutions for our customers. That means we are constantly working to improve and grow in all aspects of our business. To that end, we welcome new ideas from employees who take the initiative to develop innovations to improve or enhance any aspect of our operations — from efficiency and safety to communication and sustainability.
Three APAC-Mississippi/Tennessee team members recently stepped up to contribute some innovative ideas and solutions. We’re sharing those innovations here so that other crews and locations facing similar issues might be inspired to recreate and implement similar solutions.
Belt Rack for Belt Cut Process & Storage Improvements
Cutting belts for repair and installation is a common practice at APAC’s asphalt plants and aggregate sites. But the historical practice of storing belts on the ground can be inefficient and often poses a safety hazard for employees. Hamilton Plant Foreman Benjamin McTaggart came up with a solution. He and his crew designed and built a belt rack which has helped increase efficiency and provide safer working conditions for cutting belts.
On-Site Equipment Repair Contractor Progress Form
At APAC-Mississippi/Tennessee’s Benton location, scale house clerk Tina Hickey noticed a lack of transparency and communication regarding the status of equipment repairs being performed by vendors. Looking for a way to improve communication amongst the stakeholders, she created a “vendor on-site work performed sheet.” The form is designed to give all parties involved daily updates from the vendor on the status of in-repair and recently repaired equipment. Here’s how it works. At the end of each day, a vendor mechanic fills out the form with a brief description of the work performed that day. On the form, the vendor marks equipment as in service (repair complete) or out of service (repair ongoing). After the vendor gives the form to the scale house clerk, he or she emails the form to the shop foreman who can then share that information with other relevant parties.
Repurposing Used Screens as Hopper Liners
A common recurring problem with material hoppers at S&G pits is excessive wear on the sides, an issue that often requires frequent relining with high-cost urethane sheets or ceramic inserts that need to be replaced every 8-12 months. Aggregates Maintenance Manager Brian O’Callaghan had a better idea. He noticed that elsewhere in the plant, APAC-Mississippi/Tennessee has an excess of slightly used Urethane screen panels, mostly because of changes in material specs and equipment designs. O’Callaghan suggested upcycling and repurposing the used screens as liners in the feed hoppers. After safety measures were in place, installing the screens into the hopper took about 15 minutes. The results are impressive so far. Liners that have been in place for over 12 months are showing no signs of significant wear.
APAC-Mississippi/Tennessee is committed to cultivating a strong workplace culture for our employees. But these successful innovations from our dedicated team members show that our company is reaping benefits as well. When you prioritize creating a work environment where employees are valued, challenged and recognized for their work, everyone wins. Many thanks to Benjamin McTaggart, Tina Hickey and Brian O’Callaghan for helping to make APAC-Mississippi/Tennessee better than ever.
