Graham Jones, TCM dealer development director explains how their locally-based network provides bespoke on-the-ground support for business.
If you run a lean manufacturing operation with limited stock levels and demanding deadlines, you need to ensure that your production and materials handling assets are up to the task, as downtime will inevitably be even more punishing if links in the process fail.
Having the reassurance of a trusted materials handling partner to provide effective support is how RLM Packaging, a company with a reputation for product quality and on-time order fulfilment likes to operate.
Ian Richardson has been at the head of Hullbased industrial packaging company RLM Packaging since 1990. The business started over 50 years ago and manufactures a range of tin container products, serving an impressive list of brand leaders in the lubricants, additives, paints and automotive products sectors. They produce around 5 million cans per year from something approaching 1000 tonnes of tin plate material. Logistically the manufacturing process involves highly automated precision slitters, forming, pressing, welding and seaming procedures. This is served by a materials handling operation that delivers bulk tin plate from suppliers and various other raw materials, removes waste and transports finished goods for despatch to customers.
Simple enough you might think. But then RLM has no large warehousing facilities, or at least nothing that carries stocks of finished goods. All products are made direct to order to a 4 weeks turnaround schedule, and even shorter for products on a regular call-off demand.
As a lean manufacturing model, the operation needs efficient materials handling. At RLM Packaging this comes in the form of local TCM forklift dealer Barek Lift Trucks, one of the leading materials handling specialists in Hull, York, Harrogate and much of the sub-region.
RLM Packaging’s forklifts have a particularly tough workload, in action for up to 50 hours per week, from loading and unloading to general factory duties. As they are in pretty much constant use, durability and reliability is paramount.
“We operate electric trucks as they have multiple inside and out duties,” said Ian Richardson. “They are versatile, easy to look after and simple to operate. Our operators know and like them.”
RLM Packaging also operates an adapted truck with an attachment that rotates the forks to carry and empty scrap metals – this means it adapts to other duties when the business needs it.
Crucially it’s the service and support that counts for RLM Packaging. Having a local partner that has invested time to get to know their business and is committed to a fast response is a priority.
There is no national call centre to tangle with, just a local number and a guaranteed response within 2 hours. And if a breakdown cannot be fixed within a working day the truck is substituted whilst a satisfactory repair is made. This means that RLM is never without the forklift for longer than a day.
This also means that RLM can afford to optimise their truck fleet. Unlike some companies where materials handling is an important resource and failure can affect production, the need to have excess forklift capacity to bridge breakdowns is an additional and arguably avoidable cost.
“It’s the beauty of working with a local trusted partner,” explained Richardson. “They understand the complexities of our business and the critical nature of their role in it. It allows me to focus on other things knowing that they are a very reliable back-up.”
“I prefer to deal peer-to-peer in our important partnership relationships,” reveals Richardson. “Clearly decisions can be made without reference to or limited by some corporate structure, so agreements are tailored to my needs.”
TCM is part of a major manufacturing business that has roots reaching back over half a century. It provides a 3 year warranty for its European designed and built forklift range, with products to meet every task.
But crucially it believes it gives customers more, based on an exclusively dealer-led offer which builds on this global strength then adds a local and personalised dimension, supported by a UK and Europe-based infrastructure.
And as autonomous businesses TCM dealers offer something extra and unique. Essentially a best of both – a flexible approach to doing business, backed by the considerable corporate strengths of a global forklift truck manufacturer, with world-class product development, engineering technology, plus extensive training and technical capabilities. It’s the ‘local dealer plus a global leader’ combination that makes a strikingly different offer.
As independent businesses, dealers can make their own choices and decisions and offer a level of flexibility that often is outside the corporate boundaries of big organisations who simply cannot be as inventive. It means that customers get a more tailored service and experience ensuring that they get exactly what they need from a single source and trusted local business, but with the advantage of the additional capability and capacity at manufacturer level to provide extra support where necessary.
The TCM business model is based on an exclusively dealer based offer, as Graham Jones, TCM’s Dealership Director explained.
“With total UK coverage TCM have developed new ways to knit dealers closer together with some innovative reciprocal arrangements which means customers can experience a seamless service across the UK.
Although our dealers are all independent businesses we have developed a sales and support procedure that allow dealers to share and support each other to deliver a consistent customer experience.”
The TCM product line-up also fits well with this approach and route to market. Dealers and customers are looking for value and TCM products fit a profile of mid-market value without the clutter of unnecessary product features that most customers simply don’t need.
“Our forklift range has everything you need and expect in a well-spec’d truck, it is a very safe and comfortable to drive and operators respond positively to its ergonomics and driver features. But we have not rammed it full of gadgets or complex features that most operations simply do not need. Instead we offer a truck that is a true reliable, solidly build workhorse that will offer years of dependable service and backed by a 3 year warranty.”
Constructed using a common components platform means that spares and maintenance is more straightforward and economical and 90% of repairs fixed on the first call.
“We are very focussed on developing the brand as a trusted European built product, supported by the strength and experience of a global manufacturer and with a very local flavour to the way we do business through our dealers who have the local insight and experience to give customers a personalised service based on understanding the customer’s business and building robust and dependable relationships.
It’s a model where customers will clearly benefit from knowing that they are working with people and products that they are familiar with, but with the advantage that we have the capability and capacity at corporate level to provide additional support where necessary.”
Dealers are able to tap into the considerable corporate strengths of a leading international forklift truck manufacturer with all the cuttingedge product development, technology, world-class facilities in training and technical capability, the ‘local dealer plus global leader’ combination really does provide a formidable offer.
TCM’s FD & FGE 3.5-5.0 counterbalanced range is a particularly successful heavy duty, high precision workhorse that drives quietly and kindly with imperceptibly low vibration. With some additional impressive technical and operating features that puts them clearly among the frontrunners for safety and performance.
Advanced ergonomics and driver control features contribute to a very high specification of operational and personal health and safety. Its ultra-low vibration “floating” cab is balanced on a 4-point shock absorber system that enhances driver comfort, reducing shocks, vibrations and noise.
As well as an efficient diesel option, a LPG clean technology engine is designed for maximum efficiency and low emissions – an impressive touch-of-a-button ECO mode delivers up to 18% extra fuel savings.
All backed by the global force of TCM and exclusively marketed by its independent dealers which are able to serve all sectors of the market with tailored, flexible offers and a support infrastructure that delivers the confidence and reassurance that customers seek.
TCM
Tel: 01844 219265
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