Konica Minolta Improves Safety and Security with Intelligent Access Management System
9 Nov 2015
Konica Minolta is a leading manufacturer of copy, scan and print technologies. Konica Minolta UK specialises in the provision of Multi-Functional, Print Production Devices and Optimised Print Solutions, offering specialist support, advice and consultancy to the commercial, public and governmental sectors.
Konica Minolta is a leading manufacturer of copy, scan and print technologies. Konica Minolta UK specialises in the provision of Multi-Functional, Print Production Devices and Optimised Print Solutions, offering specialist support, advice and consultancy to the commercial, public and governmental sectors.
Managing product distribution is a major logistical challenge at Konica Minolta’s Essex-based Head Office with thousands of units in distribution each day. To ensure units are delivered efficiently, and that the sites themselves are functioning effectively, warehouse staff use machinery such as forklifts, delivery vehicles and yard sweepers. This equipment requires employees to have the right level of training to ensure the safety of staff as well as the security of vehicles. However, ensuring only the right staff can access the right equipment is a major challenge. To address this, Konica Minolta decided to look at how to better manage access to vehicles by re-evaluating its access management processes.
Dan Tredget, Warehouse and Inventory Manager
at Konica Minolta explains: “As a technology
manufacturer, Konica Minolta is known for
innovation but our back office processes were
not as developed. For example keys were
allocated manually and were kept in a key
cupboard on-site. The problem is that we have
a lot of machinery on site and staff need training
to use it. If we’re not controlling access to machinery
then the concern is that unauthorised staff
access machines and risk injury.
“We had a similar management challenge with
the MHE fleet. We have a cross-fleet key system
which means any key can be used to access any
Truck. The idea is that staff don’t need to waste
time searching the right key, they can jump on the
vehicle and complete their task quickly. Manually
tracking each key was not working so we began
the search for a more intelligent process.”
To address the management challenges of
monitoring machinery access and controlling
the fork truck fleet, Konica Minolta required
an access management system that would
automate the process of dispensing and managing
keys based on employee access rights. This
would improve security and safety, and boost
efficiency at the depot by enabling closer control
of key and equipment usage.
“The search for a suitable management system
was painless,” added Mr. Tredget. “Although
we looked at a number of offerings we quickly
decided on Traka. It was clear the secure key
cabinets would improve the security of keys to
machinery and forktrucks while the automated
nature of the solution would also improve
the key allocation and authorisation process,
saving us valuable management time. Traka’s
key management system is a way of combining
old and new by bringing twenty-first century
automation and accountability into the traditional
world of physical keys.”
