Executive Report:

Workshop wisdom

Seddons' latest initiative is designed to help hirers repair and maintain equipment faster and more effectively.

A key element in a successful hire operation is the rapid turnaround of equipment requiring servicing or repair. Measures that can speed up the process while maintaining quality will enhance productivity and customer satisfaction, and this is an area that has been the subject of research by Seddons (Plant & Engineers), the supplier of construction equipment and spare parts to the hire industry.

"For several years we have been talking to workshop fitters and developing solutions for better parts procurement and stock management," says Seddons Sales & Marketing Director, Phil Winnington. "Typically, the repair process involves four stages, beginning with fault diagnosis. This is followed by parts procurement, finding a supplier of genuine spares and determining the likely cost of work. Thirdly, jobs have to be prioritised according to parts availability and staff resources, with the final element being the necessary paperwork, such as activity reports and information for invoicing. Streamlining the procedures obviously brings operational benefits.

"Many hirers reported that jobs are often put on hold whilst chasing or awaiting delivery of parts. The approximate time spent on procurement and paperwork varied from 10-20% of fitters' weekly tasks, with some workshops buying spares from as many as 40 different companies. Establishing links with reliable suppliers, offering genuine parts that comply with the latest product specifications and updates, will make operations run more smoothly. We also talked to hirers visiting our stand at the Executive Hire Show in February. They agreed that better systems, with reductions in time wastage, would help speed up repairs and get equipment back into their fleets sooner."

To help workshop technicians identify and source parts quickly, Seddons has worked closely with its major supplier partners to produce its Parts and Engines Handbook. It includes a quick reference guide to fast moving parts numbers, together with exploded diagrams and technical information. Where appropriate, photographs are included to aid identification of parts that can be difficult to describe, and to illustrate the correct procedures for dismantling and re-assembly.

The Handbook gives details of parts for products from brands such as Yanmar and Hatz engines, Winget mixers, Belle mini mixers, Norton Clipper equipment, Volvo compact plant, Kab seating, and components for popular disc cutters including Stihl's TS 400 and TS 410, and HusqvarnaÕs K650 and K750. A specific section covers Honda engines, including the popular GX and GXH50 ranges, and also incorporated is a Honda engine maintenance guide, designed to facilitate correct engine type identification and listing variations and serial numbers across the range. Troubleshooting pages suggest common causes of engine failure and poor performance, and an engine gasket guide lists components for specific products.

Recognising the fact that the book will be used in a workshop environment, Seddons has produced it with a clear polypropylene outer cover to protect it against oil, grease and other contaminants.

The company believes that, by supplying parts for popular hire fleet machines from a broad range of manufacturers, hirers can achieve greater efficiency from using a single procurement source. Together with its sister business, Brownpower, which specialises in supplying engines and generators, Seddons offers more than 2,000 engines and several million pounds worth from stock at a network of regional depots. "The Handbook is another service to hire industry customers and it will bring big benefits," says Phil Winnington. "In many cases, test-and-run personnel will be able to undertake necessary repairs themselves, without having to send equipment away to a central workshop or dealership, getting it back into the fleet more quickly." •

T 01204 854600
W www.seddonplant.co.uk

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