Building Today for the Power Grid of the Future
Utilities are challenged to accommodate the growing demand for electricity, while at the same time navigating the complexities of transforming the grid to accommodate the integration of renewable energy resources. Both utilities and grid operators are looking for solutions to help them build the grid of the future.
To help them quickly deliver new large-scale projects and prepare the grid for this rapid expansion, many utilities are turning to strategic partners for unique solutions to help them escalate operational strategies for project execution and efficiency, optimize budget resources and take advantage of new sources of supply and technology.
Working With a Strategic Partner
A strategic supply chain solutions partner specializing in grid modernization is a valuable asset that can support utilities and provide a wide array of comprehensive services and solutions to augment capacity and bring new tools and skills to the table. This allows utilities to concentrate on their core business while outsourcing project management to an experienced team than can manage all elements in the commissioning of energy solutions, generation distribution, supply chain management and project execution.
A supply chain solutions partner acts as a single-point of contact for utilities and provides a complete suite of proven products and specialized resources focused on deploying large-scale grid modernization projects.
- Augmenting labor capacity
- Cybersecurity and data protection
- Data and analytics
- Enterprise resource planning
- Equipment and technology sourcing
- Financial audit and assurance
- Real Estate
- Transaction advisory
- Work order asset management
Selecting the right partner plays a key role in the long-term success of your project. They should have industry experience in large-scale capital projects that often span several years, use a customized approach to address specific challenges and improve outcomes, leverage in-house resources, provide real-time analytics and performance metrics, and execute complete oversight and coordination for your project.
Project Management
Working in conjunction with the utility, a supply chain solutions partner can identify specific resources to fulfill project needs, achieve budget and scheduled commitments. They effectively become an extension of the utility’s internal resources by providing the processes, knowledge, skills and experience to achieve project goals, manage resources, personnel, budget and technology.
Benefits include:
- Accelerate time-to-market
- Access to specialized expertise
- Collaborative approach
- End-to-end project resources
- Fill critical skill gaps
- Optimize cost management
- Supply chain optimization
Warehouse Capacity Optimization and Product Standardization
When you deploy a grid modernization project, it’s crucial to maximize warehouse efficiency. A supply chain solutions partner should implement procedures and technologies to improve overall performance and lower labor costs. They should have an effective warehouse capacity strategy to achieve maximum efficiency and storage capacity. By analyzing past usage data, future usage projections, materials on order and delivery timelines, they make informed decisions for categorizing and placement of warehouse inventory. Experience in multi-location warehouses ensures you have the right resources available when and where your project requires.
Inventory Management
As your project moves forward, construction depends on timely availability and delivery of products necessary for project scheduling and work progress.
An effective partner brings proven strategies, technologies and capabilities to unlock the full potential of your operations and deliver measurable outcomes, optimize spending and improve processes, including:
- Accurate demand forecasting
- Efficient asset tracking and management
- Leverage data analytics for informed decision making
- Optimize inventory levels and resources
- Real-time visibility
- Robust inventory tracking systems to minimize losses
Scale-down, Demobilization and Closeout
Once your project nears completion, you are ready for the scale-down, demobilization and closeout phase. This phase is a multifaced process that includes a variety of both physical and administrative tasks. An industry-proven supply chain solutions partner brings innovative tools, best practices and efficiency measures to your closeout process and helps streamline and optimize this crucial phase of your project.
With the complexity of today’s grid modernization, utilities are recognizing that outsourcing this critical and specialized role to a supply chain solutions partner focused on ensuring a seamless and successful project conclusion, allows the utilities to focus on their everyday responsibilities and strategies for future growth.
A Global Leader in Grid Modernization Services
For decades, Wesco has been a trusted partner to the utility industry. While Wesco has built their reputation on having the products, services and solutions that utilities need to deliver a reliable, safe supply of power, they are also dedicated to being a valuable resource to utilities throughout their entire project cycle to support them in shaping the power utilities of the future.
For more information on Wesco Utility Grid Services, please visit www.wesco.com or reach out to gridservices@wescodist.com.
