S&C Completes Circuit-Switcher Order in Record Time.

S&C recently met an urgent request for a 230-kV Series 2000 Circuit-Switcher Model 2010 from one of our East Coast utility customers. The order was entered, and the Circuit-Switcher was built, tested, and shipped in an unbelievable three days!

How did we do it? A well-coordinated production team . . . cooperation across several divisions . . . the right parts . . . a continuous production schedule . . . and — most importantly — a corporate culture that stresses superior customer service. Power Systems Services, Switch Products, U.S. Sales, and Shipping all pulled together to make it happen.

It started with a phone call . . .

There’s no good time for a utility to take a substation transformer off line. But there’s no worse time than during a heat wave, when air conditioning loads have the transmission system running at or near capacity. A malfunction with some aging protective equipment was forcing the utility to do just that.

Bill Fishburn, Associate Senior Engineer in Field Services, was called to discuss repairs to or replacement of, the existing equipment. But the existing switch was beyond repair. If the utility wanted to get the transformer back on line immediately to handle the emergency air conditioning loads, the new Circuit-Switcher would need to be built in a hurry. “I told the customer that normal lead time is about 12 weeks”, Bill said, “but I would make a call to our production people to see what could be done.”

S&C answers the call

When Tony Savino, Supervisor, Switch Products Division, got word Friday afternoon that a customer needed a new Circuit-Switcher as soon as possible, he offered to deliver it in four days. But to make good on that offer, the order had to be entered before the end of the day on Friday . . . just two hours a way.

The local S&C Salesman worked closely with S&C’s Inside Sales to quickly put together a quotation to present to the utility and to verify the required features and control voltage. The utility’s representative, recognizing the urgency of the situation, cut through the paperwork at his end and issued a purchase order which was entered at 4:15 p.m. — just enough time for S&C’s Central Fabrication to release the parts for the weekend crew. “I never dreamt that the customer could get authorization so quickly,” marveled Tony, as he prepared to make good on his promise to deliver.

A true team effort

Switch Product’s Series 2000 team got busy. To fulfill the emergency order, they quickly organized the manpower and components required for building this Circuit-Switcher over the weekend. Each team member was assigned a different task. Some worked on the interrupters, others worked on the support columns, operator, gear train, and then final assembly. The Circuit-Switcher was completed in a sixth of the time it normally takes! Another day was devoted to erecting the large switch, testing it, and then taking it apart for packing and shipping.

Tony recounts the timeline with pride: “We took the order on Friday with a promised ship date on Tuesday. We shipped on Monday — a day ahead of schedule — via dedicated truck and the customer received it on Wednesday.” An S&C Field Services technician met the Circuit-Switcher at its destination and worked alongside the utility’s crew to get the old equipment dismantled and the new device installed. The new Circuit-Switcher was ready for service by 1:00 a.m.

Responding to customer emergencies requires quick decisions and great teamwork. S&C has the resources and the mindset to quickly respond to our customers’ needs. Today, the utility’s new Circuit-Switcher is working perfectly and this customer is satisfied.