Crown Equipment Shares Scalable Paths for Forklift Fleet and Operator Management
New White Paper Outlines Manageable Ways for Companies to Reap Benefits of Forklift Information
NEW BREMEN, Ohio (Sept. 15, 2011) - While many warehouse and material handling managers continue to face pressure to reduce costs and improve productivity, most industry reports show that these same managers are reluctant to implement a comprehensive forklift fleet and operator management program that could help achieve business goals. Cost and complexity are often cited as insurmountable barriers. This doesn't have to be the case, according to a new industry white paper released today by Crown Equipment Corporation, one of the world's leading forklift manufacturers. The paper, which is called "Forklift Fleet and Operator Management: Optimizing Return through Phased Implementation," outlines multiple paths for businesses of varying sizes to follow based on organizational objectives.
Forklift fleet management consists of the collection, analysis and use of pertinent fleet information to reduce costs and improve operator and forklift productivity. The key premise of the white paper is that phased implementation based on high-priority objectives minimizes the challenges of fleet and operator management while still realizing the full benefits of the system. Three common objectives are addressed: reducing fleet costs, optimizing productivity and improving safety compliance with workplace standards. The paper notes that the "coherent organization of forklift data is key to optimizing material handling operations and essential to addressing productivity, efficiency and compliance issues in virtually any type of application." And when made relevant, the information "can then provide the visibility and control that management needs to improve overall efficiency and productivity."
"In many cases, companies can use the savings realized from initial efforts to help fund future investments that expand the scope and value of the program," says Jim Gaskell, director of global Insite products at Crown Equipment, and one of the primary contributors to the white paper.
"Fleet management is not an all-or-nothing proposition," Gaskell notes. "There are companies using fleet and operator management tools today for a variety of reasons ranging from new visibility into operations to consolidation of fragmented operations in service management. And while there are some decisions that must be made to put the necessary systems and processes in place, organizations can easily address these topics by working with the right partner and developing a phased approach to implementation."
The free white paper is available for download at www.crown.com.
About Crown Equipment Corporation
Crown is one of the world's largest lift truck manufacturers. Crown's award-winning line of lift trucks maintains a reputation for exceptional product design, engineering and manufacturing. From the smallest hand pallet truck to the highest lifting turret truck, Crown seeks to provide users with safe, efficient and ergonomic lift trucks that lower total cost of ownership and maximize uptime. Headquartered in New Bremen, Ohio, Crown manufactures lift trucks that are sold throughout the world. For more information, visit www.crown.com.
