Emiel Plasmeijer: “The inspector now inspects in half the time.”
In the world of contracting and in-house rental of equipment and tools, efficiency and accuracy are crucial. Forteck, a dynamic contractor with six different operating companies, realised they needed to modernise their equipment management and inspection system. Emiel Plasmeijer, Forteck’s equipment manager, explains why Forteck chose Centix Online and the motivation behind the switch from PATManager to Centix.
“In PATManager, we could conduct our inspections and simply record the location, nothing more. For example, I could only transfer equipment from one location to another; the wish was to be able to immediately transfer the charge to Metacom after registration. We wanted something more digital and a system that works for us. Automatic notifications to my colleagues when the inspection date of their equipment is approaching were also important requirements. That’s why we chose Centix.”
Total solution: inspection from A to Z
Forteck was looking for a complete system that would support all aspects of their operations. Not only did they want to perform inspections, but they also wanted to handle invoicing and manage certificates. This was crucial, especially given their operations in the petrochemical sector, where accurate inspection documentation is very important.
Emiel emphasises: “We were looking for a comprehensive inspection solution, covering everything from A to Z, with seamless integration with Metacom’s accounting software. The availability of inspection certificates anytime and anywhere was a top priority in our search for a new asset management system. We do a lot of work in the petrochemical industry. When someone comes to check whether a piece of equipment has been inspected, they want to see the certificate. Previously, they always had to call me first. That was cumbersome and time-consuming. Now it’s simple: just scan the QR code from Centix. Anyone can scan the code and view the certificate and other information about the equipment.”
Switching from PATManager to Centix Online
Forteck Materieel is an operating company that rents out internal equipment and tools to five different operating companies within the FB Group, including Infra, Construction, Demolition, Asbestos and Engineering. To efficiently manage this complex operational structure, Forteck was looking for an advanced system that went beyond traditional methods such as paperwork and manual data entry. Emiel Plasmeijer explains why Forteck chose Centix Online: “In June 2022, we came to the realisation that things needed to change. Everything was on paper; books were going back and forth, there were Excel lists, handwritten inspection stickers, and so on. We wanted to eliminate manual processes because they consumed a lot of time and were prone to errors. That’s why we decided to digitise, and that’s how we found Centix.”
“I don’t want to be chasing people that equipment needs to be inspected.
The Centix system now does that for me.”
Key functionality of Centix
Centix Online offered Forteck the solution they were looking for. Emiel emphasises that Centix’s key functionalities include object management, location management and the ability to record certifications. “The whole package is exactly what we were looking for. This week I was talking to a colleague who came to pick up tools about the benefits of the automatic notifications. I don’t want to be chasing people because equipment needs to be inspected. The Centix system now does that for me. It sends an email to my colleagues informing them that it is time for an inspection. I find that ideal and it saves me a lot of time!”
QR-codes from Centix
Forteck also uses Centix’s QR codes for equipment identification. “Scanning the QR codes allows anyone to access all the details, including inspection certificates and ownership information for the equipment. This saves us a significant amount of time. With our previous PAT testing process, we had to manually enter all the data into our inspection computer, and the process of uploading the test data from the inspection computer to PATManager was cumbersome and time-consuming. With the transition to Centix, we also replaced our old inspection computer with a new one, and now it only takes a few button presses to get things started.”
Goals and results
By switching to Centix Online, Forteck set ambitious goals to improve efficiency and streamline their processes. Emiel shares their objectives and the results they have achieved so far: “Our goal was to increase efficiency, have everything in one system and provide insight for everyone. Inspections are now much faster. The inspector said to me the other day, ‘It saves at least half the time.’ So both he and we are very happy with it. What remains now is the integration with Metacom and implementing internally that everyone will order their equipment through our catalogue in Centix.”
Conclusion
Forteck’s experience with Centix Online illustrates the benefits of digitisation and integrated warehouse management. Not only have they become faster and more efficient, but they have also improved accuracy and compliance. With Centix Online, they can now confidently look ahead to a future of optimised warehouse management and smoother business processes.
Discover what Centix can do for your organisation
Interested in what Centix could do for your organisation after reading about Forteck’s experience? During a product demonstration, we would be happy to show you how our solution works. In around half an hour to an hour, we will guide you through our software, giving you a clear and complete overview of the possibilities Centix offers.
