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PPE Vending Case Study DIEZ Group

PPE Vending Case Study

DIEZ Group

HOW THE SAFETY SOURCE SAVED THE DIEZ GROUP OVER $1 MILLION WITH PPE VENDING

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Customer Details

Customer: Diez Group

Locations: Dearborn MI, Woodhaven MI, Jeffersonville IN, Kansas City MO, Montezuma IA

 

Product: PPE Vending Solutions

Company Overview:

  • The Diez Group is a Detroit-based, minority-owned automotive supplier specializing in complex manufacturing, sequencing, and logistics solutions for OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers. Founded in 1978, the company has built a reputation for operational discipline, quality control, and just-in-time delivery within highly demanding production environments.

 

Vending machine stocked with safety gear and supplies.

Overview

Over the past 7 years, The Safety Source has implemented a PPE vending machine program with the client, delivering over $1 million in savings across 8 sites. The success of the program at their largest US location in Michigan, successfully demonstrated the value of PPE vending.


Facilities were storing all PPE in a central storeroom and/or storage cabinets throughout the facilities, disconnected from the rest of the plants. Managers traveled at least 15 minutes to the storeroom each shift to gather bulk PPE supply for their teams, then 15 minutes back to their area to distribute it.


Many of these managers were not safety experts, yet served as gatekeepers for safety equipment, responsible for ensuring that everyone used the right PPE for their job for the right duration of time.


The situation often turned into a free-for-all, with employees grabbing the PPE they wanted with no record of which employee used which PPE in which location. There was no system of accountability, an immeasurable amount of waste, and higher safety risks for employees who may not have chosen the right PPE on their own.

The Safety Source PPE Vending Solution

To address inconsistent PPE access, usage tracking challenges, and operational inefficiencies across multiple sites, The Safety Source LLC deployed an integrated PPE vending solution for The Diez Group across eight manufacturing facilities including Dearborn, Woodhaven MI, Jeffersonville IN, Kansas City MO, and Montezuma IA.

Solution Overview
The PPE vending program provided secure, on-site dispensing stations that deliver essential personal protective equipment (gloves, eye protection, hearing protection, and other task-specific gear) through automated vending technology with controlled access. Each vending unit was authenticated by employee badge or assigned credential to ensure controlled issuance and usage accountability.

 

Key Features

  • Controlled Access: Idle badges and employee identifiers regulate who can dispense PPE, linking issuances to specific individuals and work roles for improved compliance and traceability.

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  • Automated Inventory Tracking: Real-time usage logging and inventory level monitoring enable accurate forecasting, proactive restocking, and reduced risk of stockouts.

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  • Turnkey Management: Full service solution with regular monitoring and replenishment, minimizing facilities’ administrative burden and ensuring PPE availability across shifts and functions.

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  • Operational Benefits

    • Enhanced Accountability: Employee-level tracking discourages overuse and unauthorized access, aligning PPE distribution with safety policy enforcement.

    • Improved Productivity: Workers gain quick, 24/7 access to required gear directly at their work zones, reducing time spent walking to central storerooms and lowering operational delays.

    • Compliance and Safety: Immediate accessibility to the correct PPE promotes adherence to safety protocols, reducing potential injury exposure.

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Results

Annual Savings on Overall PPE Purchases Across 8 Facilities: Over $1 Million from the past 7 years.


Productivity: No more long walks to the storeroom so managers have more time to focus on primary operational
responsibilities.


Accountability: The machine manages who has access to what through employee badges.


Safety: Workers have the right equipment for their jobs according to fit and function, reducing the chance of injury.

Interior of a warehouse with stacked pallets and industrial lighting.

"The Safety Source has been a supplier we have come to trust and rely on for critical PPE and facility supplies. They consistently bring cost savings opportunities to our locations and superior service."

General Manager, DIEZ Group

Diez Group Locations Served by The Safety Source

Map of the United States highlighted in yellow with marked locations.

The Safety Source introduced PPE vending solutions to The Diez Group, a Tier 1 automotive supplier headquartered in Dearborn, MI to the following locations.

 

Jeffersonville, Indiana
Kansas City, Missouri

Montezuma, Iowa

Dearborn, Michigan (2 Facilities)
Woodhaven, Michigan (2 Facilities)