 Briggs Equipment exhibiting at Derby uni. |
Briggs Equipment says it has been closer to its customers since purchasing Barloworld Handling UK last year
(Forkliftaction.com News #586).
Despite former Barloworld Handling UK staff airing their complaints on the
Forkliftaction.com Forum concerning their new management's lack of knowledge about customer locations, travel distance and roads and longer parts delivery times, Briggs says it is doing very well.
Six months after the merger, a Briggs spokeswoman tells
Forkliftaction.com News that while the integration of the two businesses has been a major and complex undertaking, "parts, service, long- and short-term rental and used equipment numbers are all higher than the combined businesses" since the acquisition on 1 October 2012.
"This speaks volumes for both implementation and [our] approaches," she says.
"As a business, Briggs has never been closer to, or had better access to, its customers (than) since the integration. This proximity is a function of a flat management structure creating fewer barriers between decisionmakers and customers. Our people are empowered to make decisions and if a customer does have an issue, rapid escalation and communication are always encouraged," she explains.
Ex-Barloworld Handling UK engineers have raised concerns about their work conditions that are different to current Briggs engineers.
The spokeswoman explains that conditions vary, depending on whether an engineer is "legacy Barloworld or Briggs". "Due to the UK TUPE regulations, all Barloworld employees have transferred on their existing terms and conditions of employment.
"This is exacerbated as there were slight variations based on legacy regional differences at Barloworld. Briggs has a 'recognition agreement' in place with Unite the Union and will shortly begin discussions in relation to aligning the differences between the two groups."
Briggs Equipment provided feedback from PGR Timber, a customer of Barloworld Handling UK, to debunk comments by forum posters regarding customer dissatisfaction.
PGR Timber general manager Richard Cummins says his company has been "really, really impressed" since Briggs took over. "So much so, that we've just placed an order with them for three more trucks, as part of a new six-year contract for our new depot."
The Briggs official advises customers with concerns to raise them with their account manager and promises the company will investigate and resolve potential issues as quickly as possible.
Separately, Briggs Equipment has encouraged students to consider a career in the logistics industry during an event at the University of Derby. The company put on a display featuring state-of-the-art trucks and equipment as part of the university's Logistics Week.
A counterbalance truck was driven into the main atrium at the Kedleston Road campus to sit alongside other materials handling equipment including pallet trucks. Students met members of the Briggs team to talk about opportunities in the materials handling side of the logistics industry.
Dean Mansell, Briggs national aftersales manager and board member of the National Skills Academy Logistics, says the event that was sponsored by the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport was also a good networking opportunity.
The event also gave companies the chance to see how the university can work with them to develop skills through its honours program in Logistics. It included a series of seminars by Dr Mick Jackson, CEO of Skills for Logistics and Dr Ming Lim, head of the University's Centre for Supply Chain Improvement.