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Closing the gap

22nd December 1984
Page 18
Page 18, 22nd December 1984 — Closing the gap
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

ARE consultants and computer programmers part of the "season of goodwill to all men"? If we believe our friends in the transport industry, they are not at the top of many Christmas card lists! Why is this? The answer seems to be that consultants and computer programmers misunderstand the needs of the transport industry.

In a CM series Closing The Gap starting in January next year, I hope to do something to bring the two sides together and explain some of the manifest advantages to operators to be gained from investing in high technology.

Since 1971, the Centre for Transport Studies at the Cranfield Institute (just off the M1 where the Lorry Driver of the Year competition is held) has been offering postgraduate courses to students and a steadily growing number of them are finding jobs in the freight industry. This reflects a welcome change in the industry which has long been treated as the poor relation among the other sections of the business.

This change is probably related to the escalation of transport costs in the late 1970s and transport is now seen as a more respectable profession. When I came to the Institute about four years ago, after 10 years in industry, with my colleague Tony Cross, this change in the attitudes of transport management was just beginning to be noticeable.

Consequently, professionals in the road freight industry are sufficiently aware of the needs for, and benefits arising from, new technology. The nature of the technology makes it very difficult for non-experts to estimate the business effects. On the other hand, technology experts have, with few exceptions, demonstrated a poor understanding of road haulage and distribution. Ills the usual buyer/seller conflict — sceptical buyer, enthusiastic seller; and, unfortunately, each one is talking a different language.

As an independent organisation, it was felt that we might play a role in closing the gap which has opened between technology users and suppliers.. We decided to approach the large fleet operators and the manufacturers of the technology for the motor industry for our finance, instead of the vehicle or computer manufacturers. We were successful in raising enough funding for three years' work.

We have now completed approximately half the work and the results are interesting. We feel that some of our findings may prove to be of use to the industry and we propose in these articles to cover areas of the transport business where information technology can be utilised.

Before we give you brief details of the forthcoming subject areas, we must acknowledge the kind permission of our sponsors in permitting the use of the research work. The sponsors are: General Electric Company plc, GEC Traffic Automation Ltd, W. T. Avery Ltd, Salplex Ltd, The Post Office, SPD Group, Cadbury Schweppes Ltd, Shell UK Oil Ltd, TRW Probe Ltd, TRRL and the Vehicle Division of the Department of Industry.

State of technology: The computer industry is at last recognising that users are not necessarily computer programmers. What effect is this likely to have on the sort of products available to the transport industry? We will look at the type of computer systems people are using now and what changes are likely in the future.

Vehicles and on-board equipment: There has been considerable effort by manufacturers to develop micro-electronics for the vehicle which can improve product performance. This may be interpreted in the marketable areas of fuel economy, cost of ownership and reliability. This market approach is often associated with a pioneering effort in the higher volume car market. Systems are, however, under development which provide more driver information, route guidance, engine management and service requirements.

Vehicle maintenance: Maintenance schedules designed by the vehicle manufacturer obviously reflect the average conditions of use. It is difficult to decide whether an individual vehicle is being overor under-maintained. New technology and computerised records could, or should, facilitate better planning or maintenance requirements for the fleet, as well as for individual vehicles. Systems which have elements of selfdiagnostics are important in this respect, assisting in the high priority areas of repair costs — engines and electrics. Vehicle replacement and specification: A better maintained and better designed vehicle will probably have its useful life extended; it might be wasteful to dispose of vehicles too quickly. The popular methods based upon cost accountancy do not help when technical improvements render existing vehicles obsolete. High operating costs have traditionally provided a reason for vehicle disposal. In the future we should concentrate upon the expense of operating old vehicles in comparison with the potentially efficient current models.

Vehicle costs: By now you will begin to see the importance we attach to monitoring the individual vehicle. Computer systems help to maintain current records of the costs associated with each lorry. Comparing vehicles within your fleet will enable you to establish whether your costs are average or abnormal. In monitoring vehicle costs we therefore need to examine systems for fuel monitoring, tachograph analysis, as well as the systems for maintenance, Ministry testing and warranty records.

Fleet management: Costs associated with the vehicle are not unique in the potential benefit derived from some form of computer aided system. Increasing attention is being paid to ensuring that loads are planned and scheduled correctly as the distribution industry concentrates on defining the importance of its performance on speed of delivery or on reliability of service. In addition to this, computer systems are used extensively in route planning to achieve the minimum (efficient) distance.

Anyone with products or experience of using microelectronic systems and computers who would like to discuss this interesting area, is welcome to contact us at Cranfield Institute: 0234 750111, extensions 2673 and 2674.


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