christopher Harper, Author at DJ Products

Probe Started into Camo Colors Selected for Afghanistan Military by the Pentagon

Military spending by the Department of Defense is sometimes a source of controversy. The subject recently took an unusual turn when a criminal probe was launched regarding the purchase of uniforms for Afghan troops.

“This Is About Reason and Common Sense”

John Sopko, the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, opened the investigation this past July. Sopko made the announcement when he recently appeared before a House Armed Services subcommittee.

According to Sopko, there are two significant problems with the purchase:

• Although Afghanistan is largely covered by desert, the uniforms feature a woodland pattern.

• The expensive and proprietary pattern was purchased from a private contractor when the Defense Department had their own patterns available for use.

In the IG’s 17-page report, it was implied that the pattern was selected based on a whim expressed by the Afghan defense minister rather than a formal assessment to determine an appropriate choice.

The Government Reacts

While the Pentagon and the IG are often at odds, Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis criticized the “ineffective and wasteful manner” of spending taxpayer dollars. Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-MO), chair of the oversight and investigations panel, stated, “We cannot afford to make avoidable mistakes.”

Electric Tugs and Movers for DoD Contractors’ Equipment Needs

Moving heavy equipment such as aircraft, boats and trailers is labor-intensive and carries a significant risk of injury. DJ Products offers a full line of electric tugs and movers to accommodate any DoD contractors’ equipment needs.

Visit our website and let one of our friendly and knowledgeable sales engineers help you find the right solution for your business.

Congress Tackles DoD Acquisition Overhaul

Putting the Pieces Together for Effective DoD Acquisition

Once again, the House Armed Forces Committee is tackling the hot-button issue of DoD acquisition reform. The current Defense authorization bill under consideration includes a blockbuster provision that would signal the biggest change in decades.

DoD Joins the E-Commerce Revolution?

The provision in question requires DoD to purchase commercial off-the-shelf products from at least two private sector online platforms such as Amazon and Staples. Committee chairman Mac Thornberry’s original proposal has been revised to include all federal government spending.

While proponents of the measure believe the government would benefit from the already competitive nature of online buying, opponents question the possibility of conflicts of interest by forcing commercial firms to sell through a portal operated by a competitor. There’s also the question of compliance with the Buy American Act and other legal requirements.

Controlling Service Contract Spending

Other provisions address service contracts, which comprise more than half of the DoD’s contracted spending. DoD budgets would be required to include detailed spending plans for both service contracts and weapons systems, and so-called “bridge contracts” to cover the period between an expiring contract and a new one, which would need approval from officials at increasingly higher levels of command.

DoD Contractor Equipment Supplier Tugs, Movers and Pushers from DJ Products

The DoD uses an incredibly varied range of products and vehicles, which is why a DoD contractor equipment supplier needs an effective solution for safe and efficient movement of these items. Our full line of battery-powered tugs and pushers can move loads weighing up to 50,000 pounds.

Visit our website to learn more from one of our friendly sales engineers.

Why Use the WasteCaddy 4SC Waste Bin Mover?

Questions as to Why Use the WasteCaddy 4SC?

Automated equipment that helps move dumpsters serves two equally important purposes: to prevent worker injuries and to increase productivity. Here’s why your business should be using a waste bin mover to assist with moving dumpsters from the trash room to pickup areas:

Trash-related injuries are the #1 risk at multifamily properties
Injuries vary from pinched fingers, crushed toes, to spinal injuries and more
Use 1 employee instead of 2 to handle trash duties
Safely haul trash in wet, snowy, or icy conditions
Maneuver waste bins around tight corners and through congested areas like parking lots

Get More Done with Less Labor Required

Do you wish labor costs ate up a smaller percentage of revenue? Many of our clients make significant improvements to their profitability by adding a waste bin mover.

Better workplace comfort can reduce turnover, too. In rental properties, your tenants feel the brunt of it when quality service staff are constantly disappearing.

Key Features of the User-Friendly WasteCaddy4SC

We have solutions for all sizes and weights of dumpsters. The WasteCaddy4SC is the waste bin mover of choice for many condominium and apartment management firms. It attaches easily to the wheeled side of a standard dumpster. DJ Products can provide a bracket if needed.

Then, it’s a simple matter of pushing a button and steering with an ergonomic handlebar grip. Move and maneuver the dumpster at up to 3 mph on any terrain, with an automatic brake for inclines.

Find out why the WasteCaddy4SC waste bin mover may save your company tens of thousands of dollars in injury claims and lost time. Ask us for a free demo today.

Dumpster Moving = Danger & Injury. The Case for Safety.

Support Your Staff with a Safe Workplace

The average cost of a trash room injury is more than $41,000 to the employer. To the injured worker, the trouble goes beyond pain and medical care. Great employees don’t stick around forever when working conditions are unpleasant and dangerous.

Making it worse, dumpster injuries are the most common type of injury for many janitorial and property management jobs. At apartment complexes and similar locations, the worst job of all is trash room duty without a dumpster mover.

All in all, dumpster-related injuries cost businesses big time in the short-term and long-term, in both concrete and intangible ways.

Why Dumpsters Cause Injury So Often

As risk specialist Brian Plautz of Minnesota Comp Advisor explains, there’s usually no good way to approach a dumpster and then push it or pull it. The worker exerts brute force to start the dumpster rolling. Then, there’s inevitably some kind of hazard—an inclined plane, rough terrain or gravel, or tight turns.

The heavy force of pushing or pulling combines with the high-torque movements of maneuvering a dumpster to create the perfect storm for back, neck, and shoulder injuries.

A Dumpster Mover Can Prevent Workers Comp Fraud

Invisible injuries like sprains and strains carry the highest risk of fraudulent claims. Plautz explains that unlike a broken bone, the worker can describe symptoms however they want and the doctor can never definitively say they’re cured. A motorized dumpster mover like the WasteCaddy from DJ Products essentially eliminates the risk of trash room injury in the first place.

Protect your workers—and protect your business—with the risk-reducing solution of the WasteCaddy from DJ Products. Contact us for more info!

What’s In Store for the “Smart” Warehouse of the Future?

The Smart Warehouse is Here!

Technology has been making inanimate objects like cell phones and appliances “smart,” and warehouses are part of the revolution. Companies who embrace the concept of smart warehouses today will reap the benefits of increased profitability in the future.

Robotics and Automation

For some time now, production and assembly tasks have been shifted to automated warehouse equipment, but some companies like Amazon are pushing the envelope and using machines for packing, shipping and other fulfillment services.

Customer Relationship Management

Customers certainly benefit from the improved accuracy and faster ship times that result from automation, and many companies are adopting chatbots to handle the initial order process and basic troubleshooting. But the personal touch hasn’t been eliminated altogether, as human intervention is still needed to solve more complex issues.

The Internet of Things (IoT)

The IoT is what allows you to shop and place orders from such diverse means as a smart phone and touch-screen kiosks. Industry 4.0, or the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), is the technology that’s creating self-contained automation, such as self-driving forklifts and order picking robots.

Seasonal Functionality

In the past, employees were forced to deal with seasonal workflows on top of normal day-to-day operations, which often meant sacrificing efficiency. Smart warehouses are better equipped to handle seasonal inventory without interrupting regular operations.

Material Handling Solutions for Smart Warehouses

Smart warehouses call for smart solutions to move heavy warehouse equipment safely and efficiently. DJ Products has a full line of electric tugs, pushers and movers to fit any application. Visit our website or call 800.686.2651 to learn more from our friendly sales engineers.

Military Contractors: The New Cyber Security Gurus

Questions on the Rise of Cyberintelligence

Over the last few years, a sizable stream of high-ranking intelligence officials and operatives have migrated to similar positions with military contractors and other private sector firms. How does this blurring of lines impact our country’s intelligence community?

Rise of the Cyberintelligence-Industrial Complex

As President Dwight Eisenhower left office in 1961, he famously warned about the dangers of the growing military-industrial complex. Observers are now noting the similar rise of a cyberintelligence-industrial complex that could have even more serious implications.

A prime example of this model is the Chertoff Group, founded in March 2009 by the firm’s namesake, Michael Chertoff, former Secretary of Homeland Security. Chertoff also enlisted Michael Hayden, retired four-star general and former National Security Agency (NSA) director.

From the beginning, the Chertoff Group touted its ability to provide clients with access to the same leaders who have “kept the American homeland and its people safe.” Hayden was even more explicit, expressing his desire to re-create his government experience in the private sector.

Democracy at Risk?

What are the dangers of this new cybersecurity elite?

• Knowledge gained by men and women working at the highest levels of cyber-intelligence is now available to the highest corporate bidder.

• This new class is free to operate in a “black hole of secrecy” without government oversight.

Solutions for Today’s Military Contractor Equipment Supplier

Are you a military contractor equipment supplier trying to make your operations safer and more efficient? Contact us for information about our full line of electric tugs, pushers and movers for military and DoD applications.

Dumpster Fires Require Rapid Dumpster Removal

Crisis – Dumpster Fires Require Fast Action

Dumpster fires can be extremely dangerous to both people and nearby buildings. Little can be done until firefighters arrive, but you do have the safe option of using a motorized dumpster mover, which can potentially save lives and property.

A Harrowing Dumpster Fire at Goodwill

Like most buildings with dumpsters, the headquarters of Goodwill of South Central Wisconsin kept their waste containers right next to the building. This past June, something went terribly wrong and flames broke out. The building had to be evacuated because the fire could have easily spread inside before long.

Thankfully, a trash collection truck arrived at the scene. The good Samaritan truck driver pushed the container into the parking lot and tipped the box over, so its flame-engulfed contents could be readily extinguished by emergency responders.

No injuries were reported from the fire. Yet imagine the frightening possibilities. The entire building could have been burnt to cinders before long.

Improve Safety with Dumpster Movers

In an ideal world, waste containers would always be clean and property managers would have total control over what kinds of trash can go into the dumpster. But there’s always a risk that someone will put flammable items in your trash. Then all it takes is a flicked cigarette butt or a still-warm match to stoke the fire.

The WasteCaddy dumpster tows from DJ Products can be used to reduce the risk of worker injury on a daily basis, and you can even potentially use them to push containers during an emergency situation. Contact us to learn more about how dumpster movers can help manage risk at your business.

For Hotels – “The Times, They Are a Changing”

Technology is Changing Hotels

From the rise of Millennials to the advent of Airbnb, the last decade has seen a number of trends that have dramatically influenced the hospitality industry. Here’s a look at some of the ways hotels have been changing to meet the demands of modern times.

1. Focused Service Hotels

Hotels used to include swimming pools, fitness centers and other amenities in an effort to be all things to all people. Today there’s been a shift to focused service hotels that design their brand around the needs of specific segments such as business and conference travelers, or event hosting.

2. Decline in Surge Pricing

Hotel room pricing used to follow the fluctuations of supply and demand, rising during peak times like sporting events or conventions. Airbnb has become a viable alternative to traditional lodging, forcing hotels to be more competitive with pricing.

3. Expansion of Brands

At one time, hotels built their brand around a recognizable profile that let travelers know exactly what to expect. Now major players such as Hilton and Marriott encompass a wide range of brands to capture market share in all segments, from budget to luxury.

4. Influence of Millennials

Many hotels are integrating features and amenities to accommodate tech-savvy guests in their 20s and 30s who are prone to combine leisure with business travel.

Improve Housekeeping Efficiency with Hospitality Industry Motorized Carts

Hospitality industry motorized carts from DJ Products let your staff move heavy bundles of linens and other housekeeping supplies quickly and safely. Visit our website and chat with our sales engineers about the best solution for your applications.

Pot Growers Are Pushing Up Warehouse Rents in Key Markets

Alert – Pot Growers Are Taking Up Warehouse Space

While the e-commerce boom has caused a major spike in demand for warehouse space, competition has come from an unlikely source. Marijuana startups in cannabis-friendly cities such as Denver and Seattle are driving industrial rent prices sky-high.

Marijuana Industry: A Boon for Industrial Landlords

CoStar Group Inc., a research firm that tracks data on commercial properties, found that warehouse rents in Denver, Seattle and Portland rose 27 to 33 percent over the last three years, compared to 19 percent in other markets. Similar results are expected in Los Angeles, Boston and Las Vegas now that these areas have legalized recreational marijuana use.

“Ganjapreneurship” has also caused a corresponding reduction in vacancy rates. Weed sellers tend to choose smaller, less desirable buildings where it’s easier to control the fire risks that accompany the cultivation of marijuana.

Although marijuana has been legalized in these areas, the industry still carries a stigma due to the federal ban. As a result, landlords are asking for, and receiving, higher rent rates.

No End in Sight

In 2016, cannabis sales exceeded $6 billion. Thanks to the recent legalizations, one in five adults will now live in an area that permits recreational weed. Add the expected development of online pot sales, and it’s clear that the demand for warehouse space won’t be relaxing anytime soon.

State-of-the-Art Warehouse Equipment Movers from DJ Products

No matter what products are stored in a warehouse, streamlined operations are essential to maximizing productivity and reducing expenses. Visit our website to learn more about our CartCaddy5WP and other battery-powered warehouse equipment tugs, pushers and movers.

eCommerce Needs Are Changing the Face of Logistics and Supply Chain Management

Online Shopping Trends Are Impacting Logistics

E-commerce has revolutionized the way the world shops, but it’s had an even bigger impact on the business side. Companies are making sweeping changes in logistics and supply chain management to accommodate the new virtual landscape of retail.

E-Commerce: Keeping Pace with Customer Demands

Customer expectations for speedy deliveries are driving a shift in “last mile” strategies as companies seek ways to create delivery windows of as little as two hours. Regional distribution centers are giving way to facilities located in dense urban areas where most of the customers are.

As small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) struggle to compete with industry giants for market share, they’ve come to rely on third-party logistics (3PL) operators to facilitate distribution and fulfillment services. Chinese e-commerce company Alibaba recently rolled out One Touch, a high-tech platform that allows merchants to directly handle export-related services.

Amazon Leads the Way

Not surprisingly, Amazon has been in the forefront of many of these changes. They’ve been aggressively expanding their logistics and global shipping operations since 2012, causing much of the shake-up in traditional supply chain operations.

According to a report from real estate services firm Colliers International, Amazon is using its Amazon Prime service to control supply chain operations and improve delivery times. Amazon is also becoming a de facto 3PL by opening smaller distribution facilities near customers.

Streamline Warehouse Operations with Industrial Tugs from DJ Products

Moving heavy, bulky items through the warehouse can reduce efficiency and cause workplace injuries. Visit our website to chat with our sales engineers about our CartCaddyShorty and other battery-powered industrial tugs that save you time and money.

Author: christopher Harper