the Bus and Coach Buyer article

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m a n u f a c t u r e r
Alexander Dennis
Doing the right things
t was only last November that I
interviewed Alexander Dennis CEO,
Colin Robertson, at which time we
agreed that I would visit the Falkirk plant
in the New Year. With the snow now out
of the way, for a while at least, I made
the trip north to see not only some of
the changes that have taken place at the
plant but also to talk to him and Group
Corporate Affairs Director, Bill Simpson,
as well as Customer Relationships
Director, Keith Watson, again about
developments in what is an increasingly
fast moving market.
I
Export breakthrough
A very major announcement since
then has been that of a £25m deal with
NZ Bus of Auckland, New Zealand to
supply 120 Enviro200 midi buses, the
first of which will be delivered in time
for the Rugby World Cup this summer.
The order followed a global tendering
process that involved close to 30 manufacturers from China, Brazil and across ADL aims to be the number one or two supplier to each of the ‘Big Five’ UK operators. Enviro400s are seen on the
finishing lines for Go-Ahead and Stagecoach together with an Enviro200 that First will operate on behalf of SPT.
Europe as well as New Zealand and
Australia.
23.6%. In comparison, the importance of the
Looking solely at the bus market, an amazingly
Colin Robertson said at the time, 'We have
midibus market grew again from 28.5% of bus
strong December that saw ADL register 110 of the
worked closely with NZ Bus for many months to
registrations in 2009 to 33.8% in 2010. The 466
117 buses delivered in the month enabled ADL to
ensure that we meet the objectives of their longEnviro 200s registered was down 71 from the 537
top the double deck market, something that had
term fleet replacement programme in Auckland
of 2009 but represented a market share increase
looked unlikely in November. Its 874 bus registraand Wellington, which aims to provide a new era
from 55.4% to 61.1%.
tions gave it a market share of 38.8%, compared
of environment-friendly, cost-effective buses.'
with 32.9% the previous year, which was 18%
As Colin indicated when we last spoke, there is
more than Scania in second position. Only
In our most recent interview he added, 'Back in
a firm belief that orders from the UK will pick up in
Alexander Dennis and Scania saw their market
November we were very close to getting the New
2011. He commented, 'We are confident that the
shares grow.
Zealand deal over the line. Clearly it was
UK market will improve because the 'Big Five' that
something we would have loved to announce at
buy in excess of 75% of all vehicles are all active in
The company calculates that it took 33.8% of
the show but the customer had a process to
the market, which wasn't the case a year ago.
go through and the financing to get in order
Even if they buy below their 2008/9 peak
so we couldn't announce it.'
levels, as long as they buy something, that's
likely to indicate that the market will come
'That gives us a series of ticks in the box.
back.'
This is a very volume sensitive industry and
if you don't get the turnover number, which
Sales in 2010 were £275m and for 2011
for us is pressing £300m, you potentially
should be in excess of £300m. 'We're looking
haemorrhage red ink. We've been very
at growth this year and I'll be disappointed if it
dependant on the UK market for a long
is less than 10%,' said Colin. He anticipates
time, and we've been very dependant on a
that the UK will see an improved level of
handful of customers for a long time, so if
activity, though maybe not to normal levels.
you start to look at de-risking the business,
Overseas no recovery is expected in North
you have to go after new markets to give
America until 2012 although ADL does hope
some sort of counter-balance to the cyclical
to win some orders this year, and the current
UK market. I think a lot of the activities we
signs are that sales in Hong Kong will be
kicked off in 2008-2010 are now starting to
below the 158 units sold last year.
bear fruit.'
Bucking the trend
Closer customer relationships
ADL CEO Colin Robertson and Customer Relationships
Director, Keith Watson.
The registration figures for 2010 show
that Alexander Dennis came out top in a UK
market that was significantly down. In a total bus
and coach market over 7.5-tonnes down 27.5%
from 4,070 to 2,949, the ADL share was 890 registrations equating to 30.2%. Whilst this was a
drop of 247 on the 2009 total of 1,137, in
percentage terms it represents a fall of 21.7%
against the 27.5% for the market overall.
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Bus & Coach Buyer
the 959 double deck registrations in 2010, a year
in which double decks represented 42.5% of total
bus registrations (2009: 40.7%). Of the 325
double decks sold 93 were hybrids. In the large
single deck sector ADL registered 84 Enviro 300s
taking 15.8% of the market and putting them third
behind Scania (113) and MAN (87) in a sector of
the total bus market that declined from 30.7% to
Stagecoach has already announced its
orders, with ADL taking the lion's share. Colin
agreed, 'We've done very well with Stagecoach.
Traditionally we would win a significant amount of
Stagecoach's business. Historically, Stagecoach
have allowed Alexander Dennis to have a level of
flexibility in terms of when they built the vehicles,
but in return they drove a very hard bargain,
they've always been a very, very hard buyer. I'm
not suggesting that previously we took Stagecoach
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reliability, maintainability and value. That positions
for granted, but I felt that the way we managed
us hopefully to be number one or number two
the relationship, the way we managed ex-works
supplier into First Group. We have a strategic
quality, the way we managed on time delivery, we
objective to be either number one or two in terms
had to improve. We need to make sure that the
product, the service and the competitiveness of the overall package
makes sense for Stagecoach - and,
likewise, for every customer.
Frankly, I don't believe we would
have the level of business we have
with Stagecoach today if we hadn't
fundamentally addressed some of
the product issues and quality
issues.'
'We've picked up over 500 buses
from Stagecoach if you take the
London and the provincial business
together and that in itself helps us
significantly. East London Buses
was a big Alexander purchaser but
in the Macquarie years they were
predominantly a Scania purchaser.
So that was quite a windfall for us.'
When I expressed surprise that
Stagecoach planned to allocate the
Scania mounted Enviro400s to its
provincial operations while London
will be getting the ADL based
version, despite East London having I was very impressed by the standard of finish and presentation of this Enviro400 for Go-Ahead’s London General fleet.
quite a number of Scanias in service
of sales to each of the Big Five. We haven't historialready, he countered, 'You're assuming they're
cally been able to tick that box.'
happy with what they've got.'
I subsequently spoke to Ian Grindlay, Group
'We've proven in London, especially with the
Procurement & Supplier Management Director
Enviro400, that we have a very reliable, fuel(UK) for FirstGroup plc, who explained that over
efficient, durable product. You don't win the kind
the past three years, Alexander Dennis had
of business we have won in London in recent
worked closely with FirstGroup to drive what he
years just by having a pretty face. The product's
called a 'culture change' in terms of delivering
got to be there, it's got to be right when it gets
improved supplier performance. This revolution
there and the fuel economy's got to be right. And
has been focused on data, measurement, root
when it does break, as inevitably things do, you've
cause analysis and rapid corrective action in order
got to be there with class-leading service to get
to drive performance improvement. The scorecard
the things back on the road. Not just in London,
measures supplier performance in the areas of: 1.
across the country too.'
Cost, 2. Quality, 3. Delivery & Service and 4.
First Green supplier
Technology, Innovation & Support.'
If ADL has long enjoyed a close relationship
The performance bar is continually raised and
with Stagecoach, the same cannot be said of a
the overall score is classed as red, amber or green
number of other big players, among them First
accordingly. There are outcomes for the supplier
Group, something that is recognised and the
based on how they are performing and the trends
company has been working on. As it happens,
over time are measured and published. There is a
First has also been keen to work with suppliers to
change the way it buys its
buses in an effort to get
away from a system based
heavily on the 'sticker price' the initial cost of the bus.
Colin explained that First
had launched their scorecard
approach in October 2007,
to try and get away from
initial 'sticker' price, though
that remains important.
'Over the past two to
three years we have worked
consistently at getting our
score. There are three
phases, red, amber and
green and as we sit here
Enviro200s undergoing inspection.
today Alexander Dennis is to
the best of my knowledge their only fully
Quarterly Executive Review with the supplier
accredited green supplier. We've worked hard to
where performance is reviewed, key messages are
meet their very, very exacting criteria. Even in the
delivered and the next quarter's action plan
very tough times when they weren't buying very
agreed.
much at all we continued to work on quality, cost,
Ian Grindlay, added, 'It has been pleasing to
11 February 2011
work with Alexander Dennis on this type of
performance improvement activity and to see real
benefits to both companies as a result. We are
committed to developing this further and
continuing to raise standards. We
think it has been a first in the
industry and I'm pleased to say that
Alexander Dennis have been the
first participating supplier to reach
a green score - it's vital they
maintain that. It demonstrates that
supplier - customer collaboration in
this way brings very positive
results.'
Retail lead
Colin also revealed that ADL was
number one in terms of sales to the
retail sector in 2009/2010. This is
in line with its ambition to be a
leading player across all market and
customer segments.
'There has been an historic view
that we only ever sold to the big
guys and since 2008 we have been
working hard to get into a lot of the
The upper deck of an Enviro400 for Go-Ahead
from the rear of the bus.
smaller independent players. I think we've done a
good job there. As far as I'm concerned, we still
don't have a high enough share of the premium
quality end of the independent market, the
ALBUM members if you like, and that's something
we're continuing to work on. In terms of products
to market, specification and value, we're very
focussed on taking a compelling proposition to
them. The UK market is still very important to us
and we're trying to make sure we spread our nets
to make sure that we don't just rely
on one or two of the big guys to
give us our critical mass.'
Bill explained how there had
been a conscious effort to target
prospects in the independent
sector, while Colin pointed out that,
'The acquisition of Plaxton gave us
the low volume capability, it gave us
the complex paint scheme
capability. They were way better at
turning on a sixpence than
Alexander had been where they
had focussed on high volume single
specification products for big
groups.'
UK manufacturing
During the course of a discussion
on UK manufacturers and potential threats from
further afield, Colin commented, 'We keep a close
watch on all of our competitors, because that's
part of our responsibility.'
'When you start looking at the way that a bus is
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specified today, at the bill of material costs,
including engine, axles, seats, transmissions,
steering, destination gear, etc, whether it is coming
out of India, China or wherever, before you know
where you are there is probably
80% by value of the product that
you are very limited in terms of
what you can source or resource
from anywhere else. So you are
ending up playing with the labour
and overhead component.'
'We build Enviro500 in China for
the Hong Kong market and we
know what we pay and what it
costs to build in China. So why
don't we build Enviro 400s there?
Well, it's for the simple reason that
by the time you take a roll-on rolloff freight charge you end up with a
huge cost that then has to be offset
against that labour benefit. The
average customer here in the UK is
going to look for some kind of price
concession for a product that's
short order, that is one of our classic USPs. We
might not always be the cheapest but we are
going to try to be competitive. Day one price is
only applicable on day one, as is the quality and
product but thankfully today we get down to a
meaningful discussion a darn sight more quickly
than we did then. I do tend to think that
customers vote with their business and if they are
really brassed off with you they will
find a reason to go and buy
something else, somewhere else.'
'We might not be the sexiest
business and some argue that our
products are not the best looking,
but they genuinely do what it says
on the tin.'
Small bus
Asked about future offerings in
the 7-9m market sector where the
Primo has been offered, Colin
revealed that ADL was currently
evaluating its options. 'Clearly there
is a future for a product in the sub9m market and a series of both
wheel forward and door forward
designs are being actively
considered. The Primo is a niche
product and the packaging is very
good. It is the only full integral or
Ready for its complete inspection is an Enviro400 from the
monocoque product in our range,
large Stagecoach order.
but the collapse of Enterprise Bus
has created a series of challenges for us. We're still
delivery performance of that product. For the next
a short time, probably three months, away from
15 years it is how you support it. Do we have the
delivering on that strategy, though we are very
right service engineers in the right place, do we
defined on our strategy above that size.'
have the parts on the shelf, are we able to support
'I firmly believe that this is a product that is not
it?'
just a UK product but one with potential interna'People buy from people, so do you have
tionally, and we need to get it right. We're not
confidence in the people you are doing business
going to be cutting and carving an 8.0m or 9.0m
with? It's an area where some of our competitors
because there'd be too much compromise on
have been ripping cost out. Instead, we have been
The upper deck interior of one the Stagecoach
layout and seating capacity. Son of Primo is likely
trying to raise our game to become the easiest to
Enviro400s.
to be a ground-up product, though we'll learn
do business with. To walk in our customer's shoes.
from Primo and Enviro.'
manufactured offshore. By the time you've
That might sound really simple but I genuinely
factored all of that in we can't make the
believe that people don't buy products, they buy
Hybrid
economics work. There isn't enough arithmetic to
confidence: and we're working hard to sell
ADL has done well out of the various Green
make building in China work. There are some
confidence.'
Bus Funds but it is unlikely that there will be more
halfway houses in terms of resourcing,
'This business has moved on a quantum leap in
funding made available in this way in the near
outsourcing and buying in more modules, but it
the last four years in customer relationships,' said
future. In the light of this, I asked Colin where the
isn't like computers that lend themselves to being
Bill. 'It's a very, very difficult market and people
continuing impetus for hybrid was coming from?
built in China, it doesn't lend itself naturally to our
have given us a hard time on price, so they try
'Where the Green Bus Fund has
product. Then when you take all of
benefited us is in that we're now
the bespoke specifications that every
going to have several hundred hybrid
group and even every small
vehicles running around the UK.
independent looks for then you start
Hybrid has been a dirty word to some
to add even more cost and
extent because many variants have
complexity.'
proved unreliable and just haven't
'I'm not going to lose sleep over any
worked. By the end of the year we'll
manufacturer other than Alexander
have the best part of 300 hybrids
Dennis making sure that we are
running with a high level of
optimising our cost structure and
confidence that they will deliver
doing the right thing.'
reliability or up-time equal to or
'We've been designing midibuses
better than diesels and significantly
for 20 years, and it still isn't perfect.
better on CO2 emissions and fuel
When anybody brings something new
economy.'
and whizz, bang, wallop to market it
'When you look at the commercial
isn't going to be perfect, it will have
justification for hybrid it is still going
teething troubles and everything else,
to be a tough ask because the
so it's about getting your product right
premium for the system means that
and supporting it in the market place.
they will only pay back over time,
If we can guarantee with our service The first two examples of the Tata Hispano bodied ADL Enviro350H hybrid
primarily through fuel improvement.
have
been
sold
to
a
customer.
engineers, that if you have a vehicle
We're currently looking at payback of
off the road we will have someone with you
around 12 years but in the last few days we've
other
vehicles
and
then
appreciate
what
they
had.'
within four hours, we will give you an estimated
seen oil back up at $100 a barrel and I don't know
time of the engineer's arrival, he turns up when he
Colin agreed, 'I go face to face with customers
where that is going to stop.'
says he will turn up in his van, with his diagnostic
and in my first year in the job it was with knee
'In terms of clean air, asthma and public health
tools and he's ready to go to work. Whatever it
pads on to plead for forgiveness, a flak jacket and
concerns, there's no doubt the green agenda will
takes we will get that vehicle back on the road in
a crash helmet. There's no such thing as a perfect
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export plans for the Enviro350H, the first two of
cally to take on board the thoughts of operators
continue to factor among politicians. There may be
which Tata-Hispano has now sold. On top of this
there.
also be a bit of competition between cities in
the E350H sold to Australia through Custom
terms of clean air zones and air quality which may
Customer reaction to the changes has been
Coach will go into service in late March, early April.
actually help drive hybrid and other alternative
'very, very positive', Colin explained. 'When you
power sources to the next level.'
'Australia is potentially a huge market but
look at our market share growth over the last
couple of years we have really worked hard on the
With some
build process, improving the supply chain
additional volume
capability, we've invested in torque tooling, we've
there may still be the
invested in pave testing to make sure we have a
opportunity for the
leak free bus and we've had a huge reliability
big systems
agenda. We've gathered our customers' data on no
providers, BAE,
starts, ramp failures and items that have either
Siemens and so on,
proved difficult to maintain or they haven't been
to sharpen their
maintaining. It's a further part of walking in the
pencils and provide
customer's shoes and coming up with simple
better value for
every day solutions. Examples include the option
money, but I think it
of another set of batteries so that the bus always
is going to be many
starts, a cleaner switch so that the cleaners don't
small steps. There
leave the lights on all night and a whole series of
might be some
other things such as upgrading bushes to noneconomies of scale
lubricating silicon items, LED lights and so on.'
on system costs. Fuel
prices will continue
Wireless bell
to increase which will
pushes, coach style
benefit hybrid and if
mirrors, new
Resplendent in Strathclyde Red is one of five
the Government is
sculpted front
Enviro200H hybrids that are the first hybrids
serious about BSOG
bumper corner
outside London to be supplied without GBF
reduction or funding
panels, e-leather
funding.
other cleaner greener
trimmed high back
there's a lot of
transport modes in different ways it will take small
seats, matt finish
competition and it's
steps towards making hybrid a compelling
GRP to reduce
not going to be easy,'
commercial proposition. Right now the payback
reflections, air
said Colin. 'But if you
period is a bit on the long side.
freshener systems,
don't try you don't get.
inverted vents that
'The good thing is that, before there was a
It's a significant
avoid bus wash
payback risk and a huge technical risk. I think with
challenge to convince the decision makers out
water ingress, internal step downlighters, floor
hundreds of our buses running around, a lot of
there but, thanks to the GBF, you can demonstrate
level LEDs and ambient sensors for saloon lighting
the technical risk will evaporate because the
you have 300 running and they are consistently
are just some of the enhancements now available.
product works well. Perhaps over time, because
returning 30%+ savings in CO2 reductions and are
there are less wearing components on a hybrid
Now available on every bus, and standard on
as reliable as diesels. It is difficult to convince a
and you hardly have to use your brakes we will
hybrids, is the ADL Advance telematics system
start to see other softer benefits that
which is a collaboration with Traffilog.
make for lower maintenance. I don't
Available to operators for a monthly
think we're going to see the huge cost
subscription, it gives the ability to
reductions that we saw on laptop
measure vehicle and driver
PCs.'
performance, has an in-dash
ecotracker that coaches the driver on
'Hybrids will become more
how to improve his fuel economy by
mainstream but are they going to
means of a traffic light dash display,
become more than 10-20% of
and has a prognostics system that can
vehicles registered without intervenremotely alert operators of problems
tion - probably not?'
with the potential to disable the bus
Bill added that, as an industry both
such as high coolant temperature or
nationally and internationally, we
low air or oil pressure. It can provide
need to get much brighter at how we
customised real time e-mail or text
lobby Government. I wouldn't be in
reports as well as summary reports.
the lobby that said that there could
The vehicle tracking facility incorpobe no more money from Government
rates geo-fencing to ensure low bridge
to support it. Why would a
clashes are avoided, as well as
Government not want to support, at
collision play back, route definition, a
home and internationally, a fantastic
re-routing facility and scheduling.
technology leadership story for
Looking further forward, Euro6
Britain? Britain's biggest bus manuLowering the roof pod cover into place on an Enviro200H for Strathclyde
engine emission legislation is three
facturer alongside one of the most
years away but already ADL is working
prominent technology manufacturers PTE.
closely with Cummins on a very detailed
in the world, BAE systems. We have a USP - it
Mayor overseas unless you can show them it
development programme that takes into account
works And there are big emission reduction
running successfully in the home market.'
every problem experienced by previous
targets coming up.'
generations of Cummins engines in Dennis
Vehicle enhancements
Hybrid construction is ongoing. The first six of
chassis. Keith Watson commented, 'We've agreed
20 have gone to Reading. In build at Falkirk when I
Unveiled at the NEC were a number of
with Cummins that we're going to spend more
visited were ADL's first non-GBF funded hybrids;
enhancements to the Enviro range, some as
time on it than ever before. We want to apply
five E200Hs TB100s for Strathclyde PTE that will
standard and some optional. Their introduction
everything we've learned already at as early a
be operated by First in the bright orange colour
followed a comprehensive programme that incorstage as possible. Our new product development
known as 'Strathclyde Red'. These will be
porated extensive customer input, not only from
insists that we do all these checks to ensure we
delivered at the end of February.
UK operators but from the export market too, with
don't repeat problems.'
On the export side, Commercial Director, Robert
a team flying out to Hong Kong for a week specifiDavey, has been at Hispano this month to discuss
11 February 2011
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'There are no great big panaceas. In any
business it is about making small steps and
Colin was keen to
building on success. I think we've had some rot
stress his belief that
we've had to cut out. We're not where we need
behind achieving
to be and the day I think we are we'll need a
improved vehicle quality
new chief executive.'
one of the fundamentals
Bill summed up the attitude that has been left
was upgrading the quality
behind as, 'we build cheap and cheerful buses;
of leadership within the
so what are you complaining about?'
business and making sure
Colin expanded on this saying, 'I think once
ADL had the best people:
upon a time we worshipped the profit and loss
'people with high
account too much here. If it was the profit and
standards who kept the
loss account taking a dint versus fixing a
promises they made.'
reliability issue on 100 buses that would have
What we've tried to do
cost the company £20,000, we would have tried
is keep our best bus and
to wriggle out of spending the £20,000 to
coach people involved but
protect the profit and loss account. Ultimately
supplement them with
that customer would get hacked off, he might
some of the best and
not order new kit or if he did he'd look for a
brightest from other
commercial settlement, so you ended up with it
industries has improved
still costing the company the same or more
the overall effectiveness An Enviro200 on the line.
money but there'd be no goodwill. You'd never
of the business. We've put
back and bite you. We've had to take some
get that last bite of the cherry, the phone call
some people in new roles. An example is Phil
mediocrity out. We've had to take some people
saying hey, come on or whatever.'
Wentworth, the new Plant Director at Guildford,
out who have compromised our business and
'I think if I'm honest there were some people on
who has been with the company for 27 years but
what we stand for.'
the team who didn't quite get it. When I talked
has come through a tough leadership course and
'We've got a great business. It should be an
about putting the customer first and investing
now runs a business worth over £90m annually.
enduring enterprise that we build on for the
hundreds of thousands of pounds in new
He saw it as an ongoing process of creating a
future. In the last three or four years there have
warranty systems so that we had much better
new, more enabling, culture that he summed up
data that we could act on
with the phrase, 'just do the right thing.'
more quickly, a couple of
'A lot has been invested in operations
guys didn't quite get it. But
excellence courses and the result is a lot of
I'm convinced that had we
people who have a spring in their step and the
not done it, then we
energy, enthusiasm and motivation to do a
wouldn't have £275m of
better job. They are talented people who just
sales last year, we would
needed the springboard and opportunity to
not have had the market
strut their stuff.'
penetration we've had and
'I came from a business of visions and
we would not have had
mission statements and all that stuff and it was
some of the customer
nonsensical. Anybody who is anybody knows
leverage that we now
when they haven't done the right thing. If I short
have. I'm convinced of
change you, if I tell you a lie or if I say one thing
that.'
and mean another, you'll find me out. You only
'And we are less
get that one chance to make a first impression
Scottish. We may be
and if you break that integrity it has gone
headquartered in Scotland
forever. What I say to our guys is, whether it is
and have some Scottish
in warranty administration, or service capability, The four newly installed computer controlled paint bays.
shareholders, but we are a
or parts capability or conversations I have with
British business with global potential.'
been some old and ugly quality and reliability
customers, I know when I've done the right thing
Investment
issues that we've had to address. We're now
and I certainly know if I haven't.'
building on firmer foundations and we're trying to
'I say to the guys, before we get tied up with
Colin stressed that, 'there is no physical facility
get everyone to get it, to raise their game and raise
fancy mission statements just do the right thing. If
that has a God given right to a product, just
their overall experience, whether it's a customer
you go and cheese a customer off or sell your
because of its history. We now build Enviro200s in
facing experience, a build quality experience or an
responsibility or function down the river then be
Scarborough though it was originally a Falkirk
on time delivery experience.'
careful what you wish for because it might come
product. We're also building Enviro200 chassis in
New culture
The interior of one of the new ionised paint bays.
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New torquing equipment has recently been installed on the Falkirk lines.
11 February 2011
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m a n u f a c t u r e r
extraneous adhesive or filler,
Scarborough. It's not just about
no marking of the seats or
competing with outside forces, the
windows and the interior and
plants have to compete internally.
exterior panels shone. Once
Scarborough is £1.93 an hour cheaper
upon a time you would not
than Falkirk, fully loaded, so the more I
have been surprised to find
can do in Scarborough the more I can
rivet debris and all manner of
improve my profitability. If I can do it
factory sweepings still on
another pound or two cheaper
board when your new bus
elsewhere, so that I don't do it in house
turned up, but that is not what
at all, then I'll consider doing that. We
customer's want and ADL are
have to continually benchmark.'
determined that in future
'There are physical impediments like
customers will only get what
roof height, he added, 'it would not be
they do want.
'particularly easy to build double decks
in Scarborough, but it's not insurmountLast word
able'.
It is interesting that Bruce
This said, there has been ongoing
Emson, CEO of NZ Bus, said
investment in the Falkirk facility over the
following the announcement of
past 12 months in a variety of areas.
the 120 bus export deal: 'I have
Apart from £1m on a new warranty and
no doubt whatsoever that we
operating system, £200,000 has been
have chosen well, particularly in
invested in a new Equator time and
light of ADL's innovative
attendance system. A similar amount
approach to becoming part of
has gone on a new Team Centre, a
the market place, rather than
records storage portal. Some £400,000
being just a provider to it. We
has been spent on a water test facility
look forward to working with
that should ensure the reputation
them and maximising the
Falkirk's bus once had for leaking is not An Enviro400 I had earlier inspected undergoes a trip across the pave that has
opportunities for both the
something that can be levelled at them been newly laid to identify any failings before the bus reaches the customer.
manufacturing sector and the
in future. The system has 25,000-litres
Out in the yard there is a section of offset
supplier base locally.'
of water recirculating within it that is sprayed at
blocks that give the effect of Belgian pave. Each
Last year was tough and this year will also be
the bus at 2.2bar. 'It's not a misting it's a
bus endures a run through this pre and post paint
so, but Alexander Dennis has no intention of using
drowning', said Keith.
in order to show up any loose items or cracks.
this as an excuse. Far from it, the company is
Elsewhere in a plant that looks unrecognisably
Keith says that
reaping the benefits of
tidy compared with visits I made in the 1990s,
a lot has been
taking on board the things
there are new glazing bays, while recent months
learned about
that are important to its
have seen the installation of new computerised
electrical
customers and working to
systems and
develop its products and
the orientation
support to better match
of spade
operators' aspirations. A new
connections as
culture, sound strategic
a result.
thinking, a willingness to
While
work with customers,
touring the
focussed investment, comfactory I was
prehensive support and total
given the
commitment to delivering
opportunity to
high quality on time is a
look over an
recipe that is paying
Using the Traffilog telematics system an operator can
Enviro 400
dividends and winning
remotely view the performance of a bus in real time.
from a batch
friends, not just at home but
being supplied to London General. This had not
also in a growing number of overseas markets.
been specially prepared, it happened to be the
By Stuart Jones
bus in the quality audit bay when we went round
the plant. I was
hugely impressed
with the high quality
of what I saw. Not
only was everything
complete, it was
immaculately
presented, the
materials used were
all of good quality
and the finish and fit
of panel joins,
flooring, seats,
£400,000 has been invested on the new
windows, fittings and
pressurised water testing facility.
ancillary equipment
dry air painting booths. Three are full sized with a
was comparable with
smaller unit alongside for painting components,
what you would
each incorporating a deionising system that is
expect in something
safer and gives a better finish. Also new is a
like a luxury yacht.
torquing system that measures the torque applied
There was no
to critical fastenings, such as the front cross brace.
It was noticeable how tidy the plant was.
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Bus & Coach Buyer
11 February 2011