Do Makers Take Users' Views Seriously ?
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. By H. Arthur Beardall (Whitbread and Co., Ltd.) Tthe very interesting contributions published in '; The Commercial Motor" during the past Jew weeks, under the heading of " Let the Operator Advise the Maker," I would, as the engideer responsible for the operation of a large fleet of heavy vehicles engaged upon berth local and long-distance work, like to add my personal views on this very important subject.
To my mind, the principle is an excellent one:. but I doubt very much whether any of the manufacturers would take the operators' opinions really seriously and incorporate them in their designs. Up to the present I have usually found that'any suggestions put forward by the user are not adopted on the standard model. As I see it, the whole question involves two separate issues:— ('a) Agreement between the 'various manufacturers on the " types." of vehicle to be made (the fewer the better).
(b) Standardization of some of the parts used in the construction of the " types "-agreed upon.
On both these issues the makers could, I am sure, take the opinion of their many large users. I do know that Dennis Bros., Ltd., sought the co-operation of their large fleet owners by the issue, some two years -ago, of a questionnaire. I venture to think that they must have received some helpful suggestions amongst their replies, but whether they will adopt these in their post-war designs remains to be seen.
Also, on this question of standardization 'of parts, the • manufacturers could, I am Convinced, do much if only they can be brought to realize 'that the operator would much prefer to be able to service his vehicles with as 'small a stock of spares as possible. Surely a good selling point for any commercial-vehicle maker would he the interchangeability of many parts with other models in his range, also with other makes of vehicle of similar carrying.
capacity, but the operator mnst, of course, alivays remember that improvements in design from time to time have to
be made. 'A farther point to assist in the direction of standardized parts is the fact that, after this war is ended and conditions return to normal, there will be many engipeering works laid out for the mass production of a given part. Could not the vehicle makers take advantage of this to obtain cheap production of the many items they should and could agree to s4m:dardize?
Mr, J. B. Walton's reference to the interchangeability of gears on fotir competitive makes is of particular interest.
If this is intentional upon the part of the manufacturers, and not merely coincidental, then obviously this, from the operators' point of view, is a step in the right direction Personally, my view is That this is only a coineidence.
I am sure that:every sound-thinking operator will endorse the principle of co-operation on the vitally important point of standardization, and:trust that manufacturers will appreciate that the wish ,is to help and not to dictate in design • In conclusion, 'Iwould much like to see other large operators' add their opinions to this series of articles.