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02 June 2011
Licensees and customers of the Fortec Distribution Network are enjoying an improved service – thanks to a series of measures implemented at the company’s national hub over the past eight months.
The good news comes from Neil Hodgson, Managing Director of the company which is celebrating a substantial increase in volumes and is now looking forward to carrying a million pallets in one year.
And in spite of the increased volumes, on-time delivery levels have remained exceptionally high, despite the adverse weather conditions at the end of 2010.
Neil Hodgson said many of the changes had been implemented by Adrian Bradley, who was appointed Network Operations Manager at the pallet distribution hub in Watford Gap, Northamptonshire, in June last year.
Since his appointment hub improvements overseen by Adrian include:
A new fleet of Still hybrid forklifts which incorporate regenerative braking systems – feeding the braking energy back to the engine. The forklifts have also reduced emissions by over 50 per cent. They also allow closer monitoring of staff which has led to a more productive environment
- Agency staff are now no longer used in the Fortec hub, even during the traditional busy periods. As a result, Fortec has seen its forklift truck drivers taking a sense of ownership over the company and brand, leading to improved commitment, quality and accountability within the warehouse
- Cross functional training among employees so all roles are adequately covered in the case of absence or sickness and there is no impact on the quality of service to licensees
Of the numerous management statistics now available, one – dropped pallets – now stands at one in 23,000 which the company believes is industry leading.
Neil Hodgson said: “We are delighted with the progress made at the hub since Adrian’s appointment in June.
“Under his guidance the new systems have led to increased productivity and greater efficiency and this has had a direct positive impact on the service we provide for our licensees and in turn their customers.
“I would like to congratulate all our employees within the warehouse whose efforts have helped achieve this marked improvement.”