ANOTHER LOOK AT FRIBUTION
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TRANSPORT must be an equal partner in the combined operation of sales, manufacture and warehousing if overall industrial efficiency is to be achieved. This is the background to the distribution policy now being implemented by Ultra Radio and Television, Ltd., from their new manufacturing centre at Gosport, Hants.
The solution of many of their transport problems has general application. Availability of labour—often a major factor in the location of industry these days—was pertinent to the siting of Ultra's new factory at Gosport in 1955. As in similar instances, however, transfer of manufacture towards the perimeter of the sales area must inevitably add to the difficulties of distribution, if costs are to be contained.
Sales of television and radio sets are seasonal. But it is socially desirable—and prudent labour policy—to be able to offer staff steady employment. Here again is a problem common to other industries and it is often solved by the provision of warehouses to act as buffer depots during off-peak periods of sales.
New Warehouse
The new 30,000 sq. ft. warehouse recently opened alongside Ultra's Gosport factory is an excellent example of the utilization of modern technical advances in heating and mechanical handling to ensure that sets are stored in controlled conditions so that proper stock rotation is ensured.
It is significant of Ultra's approach to the problem of distribution that the transport manager, Mr. S. T. Alton, played his part in deciding the final layout of the warehouse in the course of building up the transport department. Prior to the location of manufacture at Gosport, Ultra's transport has been hired on contract, with the majority of the vehicles based on London.
With the change in the company's overall policy, a reappraisal of the transport organization became necessary. As a result, Mr. Alton considered it essential that the headquarters of the transport department must also be at Gosport, and at the same time it was decided that Ultra would build up their own fleet.
In consequence, an order was placed early this year for 24 5-ton Thames Traders, with low frame chassis fitted with Tecalemit automatic lubrication. The three-piece wheels are fitted with 7.50-20 (12-ply) Firestone tyres. All Vehicles are fitted with cab heaters and demisters, fog lamps, twin passenger seats, rear shock absorbers, flashing indicators and extra fuel tanks.
The 24 Ultra vehicles at present in service are supplemented by a similar number of hired vehicles, and eventually it is anticipated that the company's fleet will number approximately 40.
Luton-type van bodies are mounted on the Thames Trader Chassis, and have a length of 16 ft. 9 in., width 7 ft. and height 8 ft., plus the extension measuring 2 ft. 9in long, 7 ft. wide and 3 ft. 11 in. high. These bodies vverc supplied and mounted by Arterial Motor Bodies, Ltd. Norwich, and are constructed with an ash frame an panelled with metal-faced plywood.
The joints are sealed and covered with aluminiuni mouldings screwed in position, whilst the floor is of 1 in. nominal tongue and groove soft wood boards. The real assembly has a full-depth roller shutter 4 ft. wide, with an additional "plant on "-type tailboard, to giveeasier access for drivers when vehicles are fully loaded.
The total driving staff of 50 is divided between Ultra and hired vehicles. in addition there are 13 administrative and 12 warehouse and other staff, bringing the total to 75 under Mr. Alton's control. Rates of pay for drivers and warehousemen are maintained slightly higher than those recommended by the Road Haulage Wages Council. and total earnings are 3upp1emented by a comprehensive bonus scheme. This is iesigned to give incentive for accident prevention, vehicle :...leanliness, good time-keeping and documentation, careful randling of goods in transit and general overall efficiency.
This can result in the addition of between if to 30s, to ,veekly pay packets. Administrative staff can qualify for tn annual bonus depending upon the profitability of each rading year.
To facilitate distribution from Gosport over the whole Great Britain, depots are maintained at Park Royal, I,ondon. and Glasgow, in addition to the warehouse at 3osport, while the possibility of an additional Midlands depot is envisaged. The two existing depots hold small buffer stocks to serve their particular area.
The new Gosport warehouse is centrally heated to ensure that sets are kept in ideal conditions. The equipment includes a Trianco boiler with Nu-Way oil heating plant. Sets are transferred on stillages manufactured by the King's Cross Truck Co., Ltd.. London, from the factory to the warehouse loaded on a Brush electric truck.
Remote-controlled Doors To ensure that the correct 'temperature is maintained within the warehouse three Crabtree remote controls have been installed in connection with the electrically operated main doors. One each is located on the nearand off-side of the approach road, whilst the third is fitted inside the warehouse. The driver of the electric truck, while ferrying loads to and from the factory, is thus able to open and close the doors quickly and easily.
Once inside the warehouse, the electric truck travels down the centre gangway to a Bradbury converted car Lift where the stillages are unloaded to ground level. All storage bays in the warehouse are fed from central gangways by roller conveyors, and an electrically operated
conveyor belt circles the entire warehouse. This was installed by J. Collis and Sons, Ltd., London, and has an elaborate system of junctions and crossovers which allow sets to be placed anywhere on the endless belt destined for any one of four points within the loading bay.
The administrative offices are in the warehouse building, DI7 so facilitating control of distribution and supervision of stocks and loading. Because of the nature of their products, Ultra have installed in their warehouse several modern devices as security precaution.
The two depots at London and Glasgow are maintained by road vehicles from Gosport but they have their own drivers for making Local deliveries. The London branch also acts as a transit depot for incoming materials from suppliers. These are fed to the Gosport factory on a daily basis by inter-depot working, one vehicle permanently on this work being
supplemented by others returning to Gosport after completing outward deliveries to Eastern areas of England. It is imperative that an even flow of incoming materials to the factory should be maintained and the existence of the company's own transport department can 'prove invaluable in ironing out bottle-necks.
In addition to the general mechanical aids available in the warehouse to facilitiate loading, the strictest supervision is maintained on all vehicles leaving Gosport, and the warehouse supervisor releases models only on authority from the dispatch office_ Loads are pre-assembled on the loading bay and checked in bulk. A further check is then carried out by the transport foreman and driver as each particular model is loaded onto his vehicle in drop order. The serial number of each set is recorded on a master journey sheet. When checking is completed the driver accepts full responsibility for his load by signing the sheet.
When out on delivery drivers are instructed to make use of supervised car parks or lock-up garages when spending
the night away from Gosport. If they are in new areas where neither is available, they are advised to contact local police.
Reduced Handling
Apart from the Ultra products sent from Gosport to Ireland, when a container service is employed, the entire output is delivered direct by road vehicle from warehouse
to.retailer as part-of the company's policy to reduce handling of finished products to a minimum.
Routeing of all distribution is carried out in the main traffic office at Gosport, and vehicles are subsequently loaded strictly in accordance with predetermined routes, the overall plan of operation is to provide at least two deliveries a week to all main areas, and at least one a week to more sparsely populated districts.
Maintenance is carried out on a strict mileage basis and during off-peak times vehicles are inspected and serviced monthly. At present maintenance at Gosport is in the hands of the local Ford agents, Huffield and Wheeler, Ltd. The erection of an integral servicing and washing bay is, however, under consideration to provide Ultra with facilities for carrying out their own vehicle maintenance and running repairs, with fuel storage tanks alongside. It is estimated that this development will coincide with the total Ultra fleet of 40 Clicensed vehicles becoming fully operative by the middle of next year.
Ultra's transport and warehousing are subject to strict budgetary control and charges are raised on other .depart
ments for services rendered o them.