Automotive Fleet, January 2021

AUTOMOTIVE FLEET I JANUARY 2021 38 SIMPLIFICATIONon core specifications it will create maintenance efficiencies The complexity of vehicle systems is increasing with the proliferation of electronic sensors and controls emissions technology and advanced driver assistance safety ADAS components This steep learning curve for new technicians can be reduced by narrowing the diversity of systems that need to be maintained The key to reducing asset variability is to involve user groups early on and to gain their buy in by framing the asset simplification discussion as ways to enhance user productivity and safety and creating cost efficiencies that contribute to P L objectives AF In addition by focusing on core specifications it will provide the flexibility to shift assets across the organization Developing common specs expands a fleets opportunities to move resources around the business as needs might dictate and provides more flexibility in terms of asset redeployment If you operate an in house maintenance facility then there are additional benefits of asset simplification An ongoing problem for fleets operating in house maintenance operations is finding qualified technicians Spec simplification will help expand your talent pool because there will be less need for technician specializations By focusing there is a risk to putting all your eggs in one basket which could result in excessive downtime if there is a model wide service issue that results in a lengthy factory re call REFRAMING THE DISCUSSION Depending on how you frame a simplification initiative will determine whether or not it will be a successful program Simplification increases operational efficiency as end users become accustomed to the controls displays and operation of less diverse units Eliminating asset variability allows greater flexibility in making employee assignments without a loss of productivity or the increased safety risk of end users switch ing between dissimilar units The most critical aspect is to achieve buy in at the local level by the end user operators If you begin a standardization or simplification initiative at the management level the initiative invariably results in end user pushback You need to pay attention and consider the downstream effect on end users This is especially true when you manage a decentralized fleet where each field location orders vehicles on its own terms using its own specs and from its preferred providers A decentralized fleet structure is probably one of the biggest minefields that can derail spec simplification Your discussions need to first start with the end users who are operating the vehicles and equipment It is critical to get feedback and buy in from the actual end users Take the time to better understand the challenges of internal stakeholders said Kamanns Specifically seek out those stakeholders who arent easily convinced and often take the approach that their needs arent like everyone elses needs Use this feedback to design spec simplification that solves those challenges ADVANTAGES TO SPEC SIMPLIFICATION One end result to simplifying specifications will be simplified factory ordering When there are diverse specs it creates the opportunity for mistakes to occur during the asset acquisition process In addition there is increased buying power if a fleet can bring more orders to one vehicle manufacturer and upfitter It increases the companys leverage to negotiate greater incentives The cornerstone of specing a productive upfit is to fully understand the application Fleet managers need to develop an in depth knowledge of the requirements of field personnel to properly spec vehicles to fulfill the intended fleet application This requires including the end users who will actually be using the equipment in the upfit planning process Its not just the fleet manager who has to fully understand the vehicle application but also management must have the same expectations of the final product Upfitting is complicated and there are many opportunities to make mistakes sometimes very expensive ones During the planning process fleet managers need to analyze whether they are building a truck to accomplish one task or several A good rule of thumb is to find a balance that will keep the upfit process as simple as possible while specing the capability to fulfill the intended fleet application Ask a lot of questions to determine vehicle or upfit deficiencies Is the powertrain right for the application Is the gross vehicle weight adequate for the payload carried Is gross combination weight rating high enough if the vehicle will tow a trailer What are common maintenance problems Is there sufficient tool storage Are drivers having trouble with ingress and egress Are there problems with loading height Is there limited visibility when backing Vehicle and upfit specifications should be defined by the fleet application and mission requirements It is important to design a truck that will accommodate operational requirements rather than trying to make your operation conform to the truck A common mistake when upfitting a truck is that key information is not included in the specs such as turning radius requirements Its crucial to be familiar with the location where a truck will be used Minimize the complexity of the upfit Strive to standardize your upfit packages as much as possible Avoid the temptation to build a mobile Swiss Army knife by over engineering or over upfitting a chassis and auxiliary equipment Invariably over engineering will result in upfit complexity and premature wear and tear because often the vehicle is overworked Proper planning will substantially increase the likelihood that a vehicle will be properly engineered to successfully perform the intended operation However you should not only plan for todays needs but also take into consideration tomorrows needs When you spec truck assets today many of these vehicles will be in service for 10 to 15 years or longer While an asset is adequate for todays business will this still be true 10 to 15 years from now UPFIT SIMPLIFICATION AVOID BUILDING A MOBILE SWISS ARMY KNIFE