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Fleet optimisation that makes sense
Fleet optimisation that makes sense
FleetFocus Fleet Optimisation SuiteIntroduction FleetFocus is a material handling fleet optimisation tool that enables a four-way conversation between your truck fleet, your operators, your business and your MHE supplier.
From our discussions with customers we know that the main challenges affecting fleet managers today are cost and operational efficiency, health and safety in the workplace, and the working environment.
FleetFocus has been created as a way for you to manage and improve these areas of your business by enhancing your knowledge of the interaction between your truck fleet, the operators and the working environment.
As a product exclusive to Linde in the UK, FleetFocus is fully supported by Linde personnel.
The transparency of the data provided by the system offers the opportunity for Linde to assist you in analysing the operational efficiency of your fleet and proactively discuss the potential for beneficial changes with you. The system helps monitor your equipment, operators and fleet detail.
All of these elements contribute to the smooth and cost-effective operation of even the largest and most diverse fleet.
Multi Function Options
FleetFocus gives you an extra set of eyes and ears to understandand act upon the dynamics of how your fleet is operating.
CommunicateGiving your truck a voice to enable the relaying of information to the fleet manager direct from the Canbus.
ListenInterpreting and presenting the information gathered from the truck to enable greater understanding for your fleet managers.
ObserveEnabling the fleet manager to observe enhanced opportunities 24 hours a day through the eyes of the trucks operations.
TouchThe constant transmission of data through live GPRS reporting ensures the truck is constantly in touch with its environment and can immediately report any impacts.
Optimising your operational efficiency in a way that makes complete sense.
Cost and Operational EfficiencyYou won’t find a more powerful or user-friendly fleet management system to optimise forklift productivity and H&S safeguards than FleetFocus.
FleetFocus requires no customer infrastructure yet it can report the real-time status of your material handling equipment and its operators’ performance comprehensively, direct to your PC, laptop, tablet or smart phone.
There simply isn’t a better system for recording, compiling and presenting the information you need on pre-operation check performance, utilisation levels and impact incident reports, tailored to the level of frequency, distribution and detail you decide.
This fully customisable system puts you in total command of your material handling equipment resources and allows you to achieve new standards of health and safety compliance, cost efficiency and accountability.
With decision-making processes based on up to the minute information supported by Linde’s unmatched experience, managing your fleet has never been easier.
The Power of Real-Time Information
Six key benefits of FleetFocus:
Information is the key to successful material handling equipment fleet management. Just ask yourself how important it is to know whether all pre-operational checks have been done and recorded, and whether only authorised operators are using the equipment. If damage occurs do you know when it happened and who was driving?
While FleetFocus is primarily a management tool, its functions also act as a positive influence on forklift operator performance, bringing an awareness of accountability and increased willingness to report maintenance issues and even impacts.
As for scheduled maintenance, even that requirement is easier to handle with FleetFocus monitoring your fleet. With operational hours recorded as part of the system, your trucks will message team leaders to alert them to approaching service requirements.
1. Access Control
4. Operator Productivity
For vital H&S compliance, FleetFocus provides effective control of operator access to units, giving you the ability to restrict operator access to only those who are suitably qualified, trained and authorised to operate equipment on site.
Operators perform more consistently and at higher levels when they know their performance is being monitored and recorded daily. Information on operator and truck productivity, compliance, and impacts will assist any organisation to optimise operations.
FleetFocus allows organisations to not only control who operates their trucks and when, but also identify if a unit is left idle with no operator input for a pre-determined period. The system has the ability to turn the unit off and prevent any unauthorised use.
24/7 reporting allows FleetFocus to trigger alarms and automated notifications of failed pre-shift checks, impact events and trucks booked for routine maintenance or undergoing repair (VOR).
2. Pre-Operational Safety Checks
Pre-operation checklists suitable to the site, type and operations of each unit are fully customisable. They capture time spent on pre- operational checks and compare it to standard times to ensure operators perform the inspection with the proper attention to detail but without wasting time.
5. Fleet Optimisation
3. Impact Reporting
The FleetFocus Impact sensor assists forklift users to manage forklift safety, by actively monitoring impact levels and alerting the operator and his supervisor when a critical impact occurs. Operators understand that impacts can be easily audited to determine responsibility and those who need additional training can be identified.
6. Real-Time 24/7 Vehicle Reporting
An important responsibility of all employers is that of ensuring the health and well being of their staff.This is an especial concern in fast-moving environments where Material Handling Equipment is in constant use. At the same time it is important to safeguard your position as a responsible employer if an incident were to take place.
Right licence New operators can be quickly and easily added to individual truck types and leavers can be deleted thus easily retaining the integrity of the system. Reminders for licence renewal and retesting or routine medical checks can also be entered into the system and operators can be barred from driving if their credentials become out-of-date.
Right driver on the right truck FleetFocus provides a watertight solution to this problem. Access to trucks can be fully controlled by a PIN code log-in or a swipe card to ensure only operators trained for that type of truck are able to energise the machine and operate it.
Staff turnover Temporary staff, new starters or relocated staff can be quickly and easily assigned to trucks via the FleetFocus website.
Zoning speed control FleetFocus can be equipped to implement speed reductions when a truck enters a specific area. This can enhance safety and reduce damage in heavily populated areas or where trucks are working around high value fixed equipment.
1. Access Control - Health and Safety
The condition of each piece of equipment can be monitored through a requirement for the operator to undertake pre-shift checks that are then recorded. This means that the operator takes responsibility for the truck he or she intend to use and creates an audit trail in the case of an incident.
CustomisablePre-shift questions can be customised to your needs for each specific type of truck, specification and environment. The time taken to complete pre-shift checks is also reported to ensure they have been completed thoroughly.
Reduced damageBy ensuring that each truck is correctly functioning at the beginning of each shift, after a period of inactivity or a driver change unidentified damage will be reduced.
Paperless enviornmentFleetFocus enables key information to be recorded and stored for the life cycle of your forklift in real time. It provides a detailed database that includes all pre-operational checks, impacts, preventative maintenance due and completion dates along with full utilisation records of your forklift and their operators.
Critical/Non-critical questionsTo avoid using a malfunctioning truck, certain questions can be set to disable the truck if a safety-critical function – e.g. steering or brakes - is reported faulty. Failure reports can be automatically e-mailed to an on-site engineer or local depot with additional notification sent to operational management.
Protect you and your operatorIn a world of ever increasing litigation for work place incidents the ability to formally record the operator’s acceptance of a truck being fit for use protects both the operator and company.
2. Pre-Shift Checks - Compliance
3. Impact Reporting – Cost reduction
Damage can be an uncontrolled cost, FleetFocus has been proven to substantially reduce these costs by ensuring operators are accountable for their actions.
Automatic Calibration to environmentEach truck in the fleet is fitted with a 3-plane impact sensor. This sensor is self- calibrating so that it reaches a pragmatic view of what is average for a particular truck carrying out specific tasks in a particular area of the site.
This then provides a threshold for identifying impact events that are beyond the norm so that these incidents can be notified to managers and supervisors for additional action. Two categories of impact are registered: Amber will send a notification; Red will also put the truck in to creep speed.
Photographic evidenceAn optional extra is for a camera to be fitted to the truck giving you the ability to capture the operator and impact location.
Reduced damage and operator training costsMonitoring such incidents should not be seen as wholly negative. Identifying operators who are regularly involved in high-level impacts helps managers intervene effectively, perhaps with additional training, and protects those operators who are more skilful or more experienced at operating a truck type. A reduction in the cost of repairing damage to trucks, racking and building infrastructure makes everyone’s job more secure and sometimes sharing a part of that cost reduction with the operators themselves can act as a substantial motivator to better performance and higher productivity without increased downtime and cost.
Human beings are naturally resistant to change. There can often be reluctance from operators when telematics units are fitted as they can be viewed as “big brother is watching you.”The companies that have the biggest success with FleetFocus are those that enable the operators to benefit by raising best practice and in some cases this has meant enabling them to share in the financial benefits driven through reduced damage and increased fleet efficiency.
Improving productive timeWorking hours, at least as regards direct operation of trucks, can be monitored to avoid slack time, abuse of breaks, excessive hand-over time at the start or end of shifts and similar losses of productivity. This can be helpful when trying to control shifts during unsocial working hours when there are lesser levels of supervision.
Track individual performanceFleetFocus can record the time of day an operator starts to use a truck as well as when he or she logs out or allows the system to time-out through inactivity. In this way a picture can be built up of people’s personal activity during the working day. Allied to your knowledge of an individual’s job functions, it becomes possible to look at individual productivity.
Messaging to individual operatorsCommunication to operators is often problematic and counter productive, FleetFocus allows you to send messages to truck teams direct to the on-truck LCD screen. For example if you have an overtime requirement you can communicate to a group of operators requesting volunteers.
4. Operator Productivity – Maximising performance
FleetFocus gathers operational data in real time and can report by individual operator or as a group, by truck teams (e.g. reach trucks, order pickers, clamp trucks etc.), by departments or by any other division required.The data itself can range from simple hours information to detailed reports showing seat, hydraulic or traction utilisation against specific time slots.
Underused equipmentShortcomings in the day-to-day organisation of tasks may become clear - is there a pattern of idle time associated with a particular activity? This may show that trucks are having to queue for their turn to carry out the next task indicating a scheduling issue, a space or an equipment constraint.
Right truck, right jobBy careful analysis of this data it is often possible to identify shortcomings in the fleet – are there too many counterbalance or reach truck journeys that do not involve lifting? Here a rider pallet truck may be a more cost-effective alternative.
GeofencingFleetFocus’ GPS capability allows monitoring of truck locations to ensure that they are in the right place at the right time and if relevant to cross charge different departments for MHE.
Battery managementFor large fleets of electric powered trucks working in multiple shifts, the monitoring and control of battery changing and charging becomes a task all of its own. Here FleetFocus can help by providing data on the state of charge of a battery when it is changed and again when it is put back on a truck. This can highlight inefficient battery changing or charging regimes that may affect overall truck availability in peak periods or incur cost through avoidable damage to batteries.
5. Fleet Optimisation - Cost reduction
The condition of each piece of equipment can be monitored through a requirement for the operator to undertake pre-shift checks that are then recorded. This means that the operator takes responsibility for the truck they intend to use and creates an audit trail in the case of an incident.
GPRS and 3GFleetFocus does not require any hardware to be installed on site. The equipment in the truck allows it to connect to the local GPRS network to transmit data, regardless of the service provider. The GPRS system operates effectively even with low signal strength but, even if areas of a building or site are ‘dead’, the equipment on the truck can store up to one month’s data and will try to send this data continuously until it is successful. In the rare event that there is no GPRS service anywhere on a site, alternative data transmission methods can be provided.
Bespoke reports, live and scheduledFor an instant snapshot of your material handling equipment operations customised reports can be generated and quickly accessed via secure login through any web browser, tablet or mobile.. Tailored reports can also be sent to specific individuals i.e. a one page weekly report for the MD or a daily report for an Operational Manager.
Scheduled maintenanceThe way FleetFocus is installed on a Linde truck ensures that it always records an accurate measure of the truck’s operating hours. This means that routine servicing need only be carried out precisely when it is due. FleetFocus can track scheduled services so operational staff know how many trucks they have at their disposal in a particular period. This can be the springboard to alternative service scheduling so that truck availability better matches business need.
LOLER and PUWERBy law, modern truck fleets must undergo regular functional inspections. These LOLER and PUWER inspections can also be scheduled into FleetFocus to provide a comprehensive and well thought out diary for a truck.
6. Real-Time Reporting - Data 24/7
What can FleetFocus do for you?Your ability to listen to, and be in tune with, all three fundamental aspects of your business will identify opportunities to maximise its potential.
Total solution
Visibility and accountability Not only can you see what is happening within your materials handling fleet but those whose involvement is damaging to efficiency and smooth running can be identified and held to account for their actions.
Improvement through measurement and analysis If you don’t know what is happening, it is impossible to plan ways to improve it. FleetFocus’ targeted reports, together with the opportunity to discuss conclusions with your Linde specialist, will give you the ability to propose operational changes that have a solid fact base.
Foresight is better than hindsight Better planning provides the ability to anticipate future situations and arrive there with a plan that will minimise the impact of changing circumstances.
Firmly based in fact The data held in FleetFocus is accurate, real world and real-time. Basing actions on facts leads to progress with a minimum of sudden, unexpected surprises.
FleetFocus brings together the key areas of your business and gives you a holistic way of managing, controlling and improving all aspects. The result is a more profitable and better functioning warehouse and business.
Day-to-day in your businessMany Telematics solutions involve complex I.T setup. FleetFocus starts transmitting data in real time from the moment it is installed on the truck.
Keypad/Swipe and Display
Fleet Focus Module (Mounted inside the Truck)
The truck needs to be in a mobile phone reception area to transfer and receive data.
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Via GPRS
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Keypad and LCDscreen
FleetFocus module
Transmission viaGPRS
RFID swipe cards
FleetFocus generates an enormous amount of data. The key is to turn the data into actionable information. The reporting suite on the FleetFocus enables you to configure the reports you wish to see, how regularly and who they should be sent to. Different audiences can see different information.
Easy-to-read dashboard to show the highlights.
Logins for multiple stake-holders in your business.
Next level down in the overview on all the trucks in your fleet.
Finally, if you wish, you can see the fine detail on any individual truck in the fleet.
Optimising your operational efficiency in a way that makes complete sense.
Your FleetFocus team . . .FleetFocus is installed, managed and maintained by Linde staff exclusively in the UK. From initial site survey and guidance on what version of FleetFocus will suit your business best, through to initial setup and reports analysis, we will work with you to ensure FleetFocus adds value to your business operation straight away.
. . . across the UK
Linde Material Handling Scotland LtdEast Kilbride Telephone: 01355 233601 Facsimile: 01355 235833 [email protected]
Linde Castle Ltd DurhamTelephone: 01325 311526 Facsimile: 01325 315860 [email protected]
Linde Jewsbury’s LtdCastlefordTelephone: 01977 668722Facsimile: 01977 [email protected]
Linde Sterling LtdWarringtonTelephone: 01925 651177Facsimile: 01925 [email protected]
Linde Creighton LtdBirminghamTelephone: 0121 524 3300Facsimile: 0121 524 [email protected] Material Handling
Linde Material Handling East LtdHoddesdonTelephone: 01992 443381Facsimile: 01992 [email protected]
Linde Severnside LtdBridgendTelephone: 01656 766600Facsimile: 01656 [email protected]
Linde Material HandlingSouth East LtdCamberleyTelephone: 01276 403400Facsimile: 01276 [email protected]
Handling & StorageEquipment Co LtdLisburnTelephone: 028 9266 1010Facsimile: 028 9266 [email protected]
Linde Material Handling(Ireland) LtdDublinTelephone: 00 353 1 456 6626Facsimile: 00 353 1 456 [email protected]
Head OfficeLinde Material Handling (UK) LtdKingsclere Road, Basingstoke,Hampshire RG21 6XJTelephone: 01256 342000Facsimile: 01256 [email protected]
For automatic connection to your nearest national network company call: 0845 608 5000
www.linde-mh.co.uk www.forktruckrentals.co.uk www.used-forktrucks.co.uk
FP5380/05/15
