POWERGRAMS

Power and Georgia Power turned loose some of their stock, giving us 533 additional transformers. We were able to get the transformers in a day instead of having to wait three weeks for the manufacturer to build them. That makes a big difference during storm restoration." Improved inventory management is only one benefit of this effort, said Power Delivery Distribution Engineering Services Team Leader Ken Gilmore. Standardization will lead to more consistent training systemwide and purchase-cost reductions from increased volume procurement of similar materials. In 2020, Power Delivery reduced the number of categories in its materials inventory system by more than 14,000 (27%). Jeremy Morgan said seing standards helps improve knowledge sharing among work groups. It also makes locating materials a snap. "When something is broken or you are looking for a particular part, you won't have to look through 10 different similarly labeled items to find the one thing you need," said Morgan, Transmission Substation Services engineer, Southern Division Complex. Distribution, Transmission and Substations have each adopted standard materials and construction specifications that best fit their needs. For instance, in Distribution, the standardization effort has touched everything from pole top pins to connectors to insulators to rubber gloves to brackets to switchgear. In addition, Distribution has updated the Southern Company Construction Standards manuals, implementing more than 300 new and revised construction specifications in 2020. As a result of the standardization effort, Alabama Power Transmission will be phasing out its weathering-steel power poles and replacing them 34

• Cover