Fillislift | How to reduce costs and maximize the value of your forklifts

Read how you can reduce your costs when you manage a fleet of forklifts and how you will manage to increase the value of your forklifts counterweight.

 

A four-step plan

 

1. Control of forklifts
2. Cost reduction
3. Redesign of forklifts operation
4. Long-term strategy

 

Determining the economic life of a forklift truck, there are two elements in the total cost of owning a forklift, the operating cost and the market cost. The evaluation of these costs on a "per hour" basis allows us to compare them and take decisions about the maintenance programs and replacement of our forklifts. When you combine operating costs with the cost of ownership you reach the "total" cost per hour. The occupation cost originally retreats and then begins to rise again. Time to replace your forklifts is where the total cost is minimized. At this point, the economic life of your vehicle has expired.

 

1. Control Forklift

 

• Navigate to your space do an in-depth investigation of the operating mode of your machine.
• Talk to managers, supervisors and machine operators.
• Evaluate maintenance procedures and repair practices and maintenance records and service of your machinery.
• Determine the operating cost per hour.
• Determine the level of utilization of your forklifts.
• Inspect and analyze the total cost of your equipment.
• Identify your forklift profile and assign tasks for each.
• Assess the operation and maintenance skills of your operators.
• Consider administrative procedures and supervision of your operators.
• Create a detailed report carefully describing your findings.

 

2. Cost Reduction

 

• Recommend immediate changes to current maintenance programs so as to maximize the use and crop the cost.
• Improve overall productivity by maximizing the use of your forklifts.
• Reduce spares stock with supplies at the right time and using reliable parts suppliers in quantities and qualities.
• Improve workflow and productivity with specific recommendations for material handling flow in your space.

 

3. Redesign forklift operation

 

• Make specific proposals to improve each forklift separately.
• Standardize the fuel source for your forklifts, with this way checking the quality of the fuel / or your batteries.
• Evaluate your parallel handling equipment to exploit together multiple sectors to reduce the number of machines.

 

4. Long-term strategy

 

• Think of innovative forklift counterweight acquisition programs including short-term or long-term rent.
• Consider the long-term service and maintenance contracts that allow you to reduce the cost per vehicle and includes all maintenance and repair work they may need.