Features to Look for When Buying Shipping Containers

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StrategyDriven Tactical Execution Article | Features to Look for When Buying Shipping Containers

When you buy a shipping container, you want to ensure it serves its intended purpose. Whether new or used, a container should be free of rust and have a fresh coat of paint with smooth hinges. It is also important to consider where your container will be placed. If the trucks that deliver the container have to drive over mud or grass, it can cost you additional money.

Convenience

Shipping containers are designed with transportation in mind. Their size is perfect for large vehicles to maneuver them around, making it easy to transport them to different places. Shipping container sellers offer various grades of containers based on their aesthetics and structural integrity. Typically, “A-grade” containers have a fresh paint job, minimal or no dents, and ultimate waterproofing protection. “B-grade” containers may have a few cuts and surface rust, but they are still structurally fit for shipping. “C grade” containers are the least expensive but have more dents and significant surface rust.

Look for Norcal conex containers that have been refurbished to be as clean and functional as possible. You’ll want to avoid buying from other sellers with “As-Is” containers sight unseen, as this leaves the door open for many different types of wear and tear. Also, check if delivery options are included in the price of the container or if they are an additional cost. Ask about a return policy should you receive a less-than-expected container.

Size

Choosing the right size of a shipping container is an important factor in your project. Standard containers come in 20- and 40-foot options, which are large enough for most building uses. You can also get specialty containers such as high cubes or double doors. These can be a good option for those who want extra space. Another consideration when purchasing a container is the condition. The best choice is an “A-grade” container that has a fresh paint job, no or minimal dents, and ultimate waterproofing protection. It can save you money over a used container with marks that may affect the structural integrity of your home. It would help if you chose a container not used to transport fruits or vegetables, as it will have been treated with pesticides. The condition of the site where your receptacle will be placed will also impact your decision. Ensure the ground is hard and dry, and avoid rocky or flood-prone areas.

Safety

When buying a shipping container, it is crucial to consider the site where it will be installed. The location should have enough space for the container, and the ground should be firm enough to support its weight. It is also important to prepare the site before the delivery of the container. Another consideration is the condition of the container. The container may have been treated with pesticides or other chemicals depending on its previous use. These substances can permeate the floor and require remediation. Shipping containers (sea crates or conex boxes) are typically sold in various grades based on their condition. Examining the container thoroughly and understanding how the seller rated it is vital.

Value

One of the key features to look for when buying a shipping container is its condition. You want to avoid placing an order based on stock photos and ending up with a container in poor deterioration. That is why it’s important always to request a physical inspection. Also, consider the history of your potential purchase. If the container spent time traveling to harsh climates, it may show more wear than one stored in milder conditions. Another factor to consider is the door configuration. Standard containers have cargo doors on only one short side. However, double-door containers have doors on both sides of the short ends. You will need to determine which is the best fit for your project. Finally, avoid purchasing a container that is being sold as As-Is. With an on-site inspection, you will know what condition the container is in, and the seller will likely offer a warranty for this type of sale.

4 Ways to Improve Operational Efficiency

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StrategyDriven Tactical Execution Article | 4 Ways to Improve Operational Efficiency

Does your business struggle when it comes to operational efficiency? This is a common issue that businesses in many industries face. Efficiency can have a huge impact on the overall success of the company, productivity, employee morale, and many other key metrics, so it is an area that is always worth addressing if there are improvements that can be made. While making changes to the daily operation can be disruptive, you will find these to be worthwhile if they help you reach new levels of success and make work easier for your team. Here are a few of the best ways to improve operational efficiency.

1. Analyze Processes and Identity Bottlenecks

The first step should be to analyze every process by breaking these down into individual tasks. This will help you identify the bottlenecks and inefficiencies – you can then find ways to improve these tasks to improve overall efficiency. It is important to work with the relevant employees when analyzing processes as they will have the best idea of where inefficiencies are and may also have smart ideas for ways to improve. You do not always have to make huge changes, as even a small change to a minor task can have a positive impact on overall efficiency.

2. Automate Tasks

These days, you should be automating tasks to improve efficiency and free up time for your staff to focus on other areas. There are many repetitive tasks that can be fully or semi-automated, which will make a big difference to the efficiency of your operation while making work easier for your team.

3. Ensure Staff Can Access Resources That They Need

In today’s digital age, it is vital that every employee has easy access to the data, tools, and resources that they need. In addition to this, you should restrict access so that employees do not have access to what they do not need to enhance cybersecurity. This is all possible with access and identity management, a security discipline that gives you control over access based on an individual’s job role. This will improve efficiency as your team will never have issues accessing the resources they need without needing to log in as an administrator. This will also reduce the likelihood of a data breach, which is important during a time when cybercrime is on the rise.

4. Provide Staff Training

Your team needs to have easy access to the digital resources they need to complete their work, but they also need to know how to carry out their role efficiently. Therefore, it is important to train your team and make yourself available if they need support. In particular, you want to make sure that your team has training for any tech or software that they need to use.

These are the best ways to improve overall operational efficiency. Improving efficiency can help your business to reach higher levels of success, increase productivity and even make work easier for your team. This means that it is always worthwhile looking for ways to improve efficiency as it is something that everyone will benefit from.

How Offshore Wireline Lift Frames Improve Efficiency and Safety in Oil Rig Operations

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StrategyDriven Tactical Execution Article | How Offshore Wireline Lift Frames Improve Efficiency and Safety in Oil Rig Operations

Working on an oil rig is exciting and adventurous, but it also has its risks. Rig workers are exposed to dangerous machinery that can cause serious injury if not handled properly.

Increased Safety

In addition to reducing rig up time, offshore wireline lift frames enable safer operation by separating CT operations from drill floor operations. This allows the operator to carry out coiled tubing (CT), wireline, and E-line/slick line work separately, which helps reduce handshakes between crews on the drill floor. During a deepwater well intervention, wind, weather, and loop current impacts can cause vertical movement of equipment on floating platforms or riser-based subsea systems. This movement can impact, or even shut down, CT or wireline equipment. Motion compensation services counter this movement by stabilizing equipment.

Reduced Costs

Using offshore wireline lift frames to separate wireline operations from the rig drill floor saves time by shaving minutes and seconds throughout the lifting process. This means more work can be done in a shorter period, saving costs by reducing rig days for plug and abandonment operations.

Another way that offshore wireline lift frames reduce cost is by increasing the weather working window. Inclement weather often slows operations and increases downtime for offshore projects, especially with subsea well intervention and drilling equipmentoperations. Additionally, the CCTLF includes indicator-monitoring systems in the rig shack and deck that provide real-time data monitoring of exact tide strokes and fluid levels. This helps to keep the system in scope and eliminates downtime due to unexpected events, saving more rig days. This enables a higher volume of P&A operations to be completed with a smaller riser and lighter intervention vessel.

Increased Efficiency

Various activities rely on wireline tools and technologies to get information downhole. These services are critical in oilfield operations, from performing downhole directional surveys to firing perforated charges at precise locations. These activities are known as “well workover” or “well intervention.” This invasive well maintenance is performed to prolong, restore, or boost production. Well-intervention jobs can include fracturing rocks, expanding fissures, or opening new channels to wellheads. They may also include using explosive charges to fracture and expand casings or running perforating guns to punch holes in the well walls.

A Coiled Tubing Lift Frame (CCTLF) separates wireline operations from the drill floor, allowing for completing activities that require a safe weather working window without using a derrick. It features a motion-compensated design that reduces the risk of shear and flex while increasing operational flexibility and cost savings.

Reduced Downtime

Achieving production targets is only possible by ensuring the safety of rig employees. Proactive safety measures, such as implementing new technologies and training employees on proper safety protocols, reduce the risk of accidents and injuries that can lead to downtime in the field. AHC mode compensates for the actual wave height, meaning load-handling operations can be conducted in poor weather conditions. This helps avoid excessive tugging on the wire and lifting straps and prevents loads from colliding with the seabed or other objects. It also lets the crane land or lift off a load optimally to ensure minimal impact on vessel motions and operation times.

What Kind of Circuit Breaker Should You Install in a Commercial Building?

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StrategyDriven Tactical Execution Article | What Kind of Circuit Breaker Should You Install in a Commercial Building?

Commercial buildings are buildings zoned for commerce. You might see a lawyer’s office in a commercial building, or maybe you’ll see one being used as a furniture store.

Whatever it’s being used for, though, if it’s zoned commercial, it must be constructed correctly and have all the necessary components. The building’s owner and customers demand no less.

The electrical components within the building must all be functioning correctly. You should see the proper circuit breakers inside.

If you don’t know much about electrical systems, though, you may not know whether you want a square D 50-amp breaker in the commercial building or some other kind entirely. Let’s talk about which circuit breakers should go in commercial buildings right now.

What is a Circuit Breaker?

First, let’s define circuit breakers, just in case you don’t know this term. Breakers are electrical components. They’re safety devices. You install one as protection for an electrical circuit.

If there’s too much current running through one part of the electrical system, the breaker trips, which stops an overload. Electrical overloads can be quite serious since they can cause a fire in some instances.

What Goes Into Selecting a Circuit Breaker for Commercial Buildings?

There is no single answer as to what circuit breakers you want in commercial buildings. That is because several crucial factors go into making this choice.

You will need a professional electrician to answer this question for you. They will look at any existing regulations they must follow. They will examine the technological requirements and telecommunications systems associated with this particular electrical circuit.

They must also look at the load the circuit must bear and the electrical system’s general characteristics. Finally, they must consider the environment where the breaker will be installed. They must be mindful of the average temperature there, the humidity that might be present, and so forth.

The Rated Current and the Ambient Temperature

When a professional electrician looks at everything we mentioned, they will pay particular attention to the ambient temperature and the rated current. Say that they are dealing with a low-voltage distribution circuit breaker. If so, they will want to install those rated for 40 degrees Celsius for industrial CBs, or 30 degrees Celsius for commercial distributive or domestic CBs.

Compensated Thermal Magnetic Tripping Units

An electrician working in a commercial building might use a compensated thermal magnetic tripping unit if they have an enclosed electrical system where they must install energy-intensive CBs. This kind ends up getting installed in many commercial sites.

Uncompensated Units

An electrician might also install an uncompensated thermal magnetic tripping unit. These are appropriate for very hot climates or facilities.

If a facility is running some equipment that generates a lot of heat, you can bet the electrician will install an uncompensated unit.

Those are the basic rules regarding what circuit breakers you’ll see in commercial facilities. These are critical choices. A breaker that isn’t adequate for a particular building can cause tons of headaches for the employees and building owner.

Saving Money on Transport Costs with Packing Optimization

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StrategyDriven Tactical Execution Article | Saving Money on Transport Costs with Packing OptimizationThe pandemic. War. Soaring fuel prices. Economic turndown. The global cost of living crisis. Everyone knows how hard these recent challenges affect everything. Business owners know, too – especially those working in production and logistics. With transport costs ever-high, many company owners and managers seek ways to lower the burden, keeping their employees employed and their businesses healthy.

Sure, nobody can control the global problems driving up prices – but they can implement solutions to reduce their impact and save precious cash. Some solutions are simple; others are complex. But one thing’s for sure: they make a difference. Here are a few strategies to try if you’re a business owner or manager looking to reduce your logistical monetary nightmare and keep the company – and your teams – flowing seamlessly.

Optimize Packing

For significant savings on time and money, you must optimize shipment packing. Doing so is essential if your business sends or stores goods, with 3D Bin Packing an excellent example of this kind of modern service enabling packing optimization and, therefore, reduced costs. Currently, many businesses, small and large, manually organize and pack goods and orders. However, much of this process is guesswork, wasting materials and space.

Think of how many packages arrive full of air and unnecessary filler or small items cased within enormous boxes – such a waste! Not to mention, all that wasted material consumes staff time – and time is money, after all, even when enjoying the benefits of automation.

Still, that’s not the sole fund-draining source; unoptimized packing also wastes time and money on transporting all that unnecessary packaging, filler, and air, as well as all the fuel and labor that goes into production and logistics until the customer receives their goods.

Smart Planning

In logistics, planning heavily influences the supply chain budget. Failure to plan schedules, orders, and deliveries can lead to last-minute decisions – and worse, delays and missed deadlines. When delays and missed deadlines rear their heads, desperation calls, meaning your company might pay higher fees for urgent transport and even make avoidable packing errors that affect logistics costs.

To avoid these problems? Plan production, transportation, and deliveries well in advance. Still, it’s not enough to mark dates in calendars and send them to employees and drivers; smart planning and inventory management will enable you to take other variables into account that could, if unforeseen, impact your production and transport. Roadworks, traffic, the holidays, the weather, and even unexpected events like protests and strikes all have a place in smart planning.

Consolidated Shipments

Shipping goods in full container loads (FCL) is faster and cheaper compared to less than container loads (LCL). That said, plenty of businesses don’t have shipments large enough for an FCL. Instead, these companies have to opt for LCL, which entails higher costs and poorer efficiency.

Luckily, there’s a way to take advantage of FCL, even without larger shipments: shipment consolidation – when the transporter combines LCLs from multiple shippers to create a full container shipment (essentially, an FLC). Upon arriving at their destination, the goods are separated into their original LCL shipments, which the customers/owners can collect. Although this solution is ideal when suppliers share the same destination, it helps smaller ones lower logistics costs.