News
MiX Telematics wraps up Mondi’s fleet challenges
06 June 2011
Having the right technology in place is key to effectively managing a fleet, even a fleet of forklifts. MiX Telematics, a leader in fleet management technology innovation and vehicle tracking systems, has found solutions to Mondi Packaging South Africa’s forklift fleet challenges through its fleet management technology.
Arno Hauptfleisch, Yard Superintendant for Mondi Packaging Springs, says Mondi installed the MiX Telematics units and system in May 2010, as the manager was not satisfied with what the system Mondi was using could offer. He says that the Divisional Logistics Manager opted for the telematics system to be installed in five new forklifts that were to be leased at that time.
“Through Tectra Telematics, an authorised value added reseller of MixTelematics, we were made aware of Mondi’s needs and started to look at what unit should be installed to best solve its forklift management issues. In this industry there needs to be a strong back-end support structure in place to ensure the full capability of the unit is utilised. Our support structure is our strength and where clients get the most benefit from our services,” says Brendan Horan, General Manager Sales and Marketing for MiX Telematics.
For Mondi, as with any logistics set up that operates 24/7, the most difficult area to manage was the machine control. Hauptfleisch says since various operators used the same forklift, any damage or abuse of the machine was difficult to pinpoint. “With the new MiX Telematics system, the problems disappeared. Vehicle movement is tracked and any incident can be resolved regarding the operator,speed, location, direction travelled, force of impact, area of impact and so on. Most importantly, management is informed immediately by sms of any incidents involving one of our machines. Management has greater control,” he comments. Hauptfleisch has also used the reports in disciplinary enquiries as evidence.
A particular incident in which the data provided by the unit came in handy was to settle a dispute between Mondi and a service provider. Hauptfleisch recalls how the service provider alleged that there had been abuse of an attachment on a forklift by a Mondi driver. The reporting history was retrieved and proved that no abuse had taken place. “Instead of Mondi having to pay a bill of approximately R16 000, the broken attachment in dispute was successfully redesigned to prevent future failures.”
Before the installation date, Hauptfleisch says Mondi had numerous break-downs, damage to equipment and no way of tracing these. With the previous system, Mondi had on average 22 high impact accidents per month where the forklift cut out. This excluded minor bumps and scratches. Since the installation in May, total impacts to date sit at 60 with only 13 of these above the 2 G-force mark. “The system acts as a deterrent as the operators know the system is policing them,” says Hauptfleisch. “I requested that the units be programmed to switch off the machine’s engine after three minutes of idling. This was done within 24 hours, which was excellent service. This adjustment saves on diesel and prevents hours being clocked without actual work being carried out. We are now only paying for productive time.”
Because of the outstanding success of the forklift management system and the advantages it provides, Mondi Springs is currently installing the units into a further 16 forklifts on site. “We are also looking to incorporate the engine management system in our current package with MiX Telematics,” he says.
Horan says MiX Telematics has been very pleased with the savings and service it has been able to provide for Mondi. “We will continue to work closely with Tectra Telematics and Mondi in the future and look forward to introducing even more efficiencies into the Mondi fleet,” he concludes.
