The Day I Inherited the Equipment Budget
When I took over purchasing in early 2023, our company was mid-size—about 120 employees across two quarry sites. I managed roughly $400k annually in equipment and supplies, spread across 7 vendors. My background was admin, not engineering. I knew how to order office paper and coffee, not drill rigs. But our operations manager, Tom, needed a new rock breaker for the main pit, and the CFO told me, “Figure it out.” So I did.
I spent the first week cramming on Epiroc offerings—specifically their Epiroc mining equipment line and the Epiroc Industrial Tools and Attachments LLC distribution network. I’ll be honest: the product names blurred together. HB 10000? I thought that was a highway. But I learned fast.
First Mistake: Trusting the Brochure
I contacted three vendors. One was a local dealer for Epiroc who sent me a glossy catalog. The other two offered competitive quotes from brands we won’t name (policy, not mine). The Epiroc rep, Alicia, was patient—she answered my dumb questions without making me feel dumb. She explained the difference between hydraulic and pneumatic breakers, and when I asked about air compressor compatibility, she said, “We have a training module on that. Let me send you the PDF.”
I thought: great, I’ll forward it to the crew. No further action. That was mistake number one.
Meanwhile, I was juggling smaller purchases. Our maintenance lead asked for a Dewalt drill for light fabrication work. I bought it online, no problem. Our field engineer, who has tinnitus from years of drilling noise, asked if I could order a pair of Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 headphones for his office desk. I rolled my eyes but added them to the cart.
Back to the big purchase: I chose Epiroc based on Alicia’s support and a service contract that included on-site training. We issued a PO for $48,000—or rather, $50,200 with shipping and taxes, I’m mixing up the numbers—and Tom scheduled delivery for the end of the quarter.
The Air Compressor Fiasco
The equipment arrived on a Tuesday. On Wednesday, Tom called me: “The crew can’t run it. They don’t know how to hook up the air compressor properly.”
I froze. I had forwarded that PDF but never checked it myself. Worse, I had ordered a new stationary air compressor for another project—but nobody had trained the operators on how to use air compressor with a percussion breaker. The Epiroc manual was clear: “Output pressure must not exceed 175 psi. Use 1″ hose minimum.” Our crew had been using a 3/4″ hose from an old unit. That coupling blew off on the first test. No injuries, but the compressor was down for two days.
I felt like an idiot. My CFO later told me the delay cost us about $3,400 in lost production. I had to eat that out of my departmental buffer.
The Learning Curve
Alicia saved us. She scheduled a one-day training session with an Epiroc technician who walked the crew through proper air compressor setup, hose sizing, and daily checks. He also taught them the correct way to lubricate the breaker—a detail the brochure never highlighted. “This works for us,” he said, “but every site is different. If you’re in a cold climate, the oil viscosity changes.” Sound advice.
I also realized I had no formal process for verifying that vendor training materials were actually distributed and used. We didn't have a training sign-off protocol. Cost us when the third shift tried to operate without reading the manual—again, no injuries, but they misthreaded a fitting, which cost $400. I finally created a “New Equipment Onboarding Checklist” that includes a step for “confirm air compressor compatibility and training completion.” Should have done it after the first incident.
What I Learned About Industry Evolution
Our 2024 vendor consolidation project forced me to evaluate whether Epiroc was still the right choice. I compared their Epiroc mining equipment against newer offerings from smaller competitors. Five years ago, service standards were minimal—you’d get a phone number and hope someone answered. Now, Epiroc offers a digital portal, real-time inventory, and remote diagnostics. That changed the calculus.
But some things stayed the same: you still need to know your air supply. You still need to inspect hoses for wear. The fundamentals haven’t changed, but the execution has transformed. If you’re an admin buyer stepping into this world, here’s what I’d tell you:
- Verify before you buy. Get written confirmation of training support and air compressor specs. I didn’t, and it cost us.
- Don’t assume your team knows. They might have years of experience, but every brand has quirks. The Epiroc breaker, for example, requires a different oil than the old brand we used.
- Use the vendor’s free resources. Alicia offered a one-hour webinar on air compressor basics. I skipped it. Big mistake.
Trust Me on This One
If you’ve ever had a $50,000 piece of equipment sit idle because nobody knew how to use air compressor correctly, you know the sinking feeling. Take it from someone who learned the hard way: the brochure is not enough. Get your boots on site, ask the dumb questions, and if a Dewalt drill can be ordered in five minutes but a rock breaker takes six weeks of coordination, that’s okay. Different tools, different processes.
Oh, and the Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2? Our engineer loves them. But I made him sign a form saying he’d keep the volume low enough to hear safety alarms. Another lesson in process gaps.
Our company is now in its second year with Epiroc. I still manage the relationship—roughly 60 orders a year, give or take. The air compressor training is now mandatory. And when I see a new piece of equipment coming in, I check the spec sheet myself. That’s the real evolution.
