Aiming to consistently provide the highest quality services to automotive sector clients, GEFCO has developed an iPad application to facilitate vehicle loading inspections. This tool, created in accordance with field work requirements, offers many advantages and allows for increased safety in the transport of finished vehicles.
As a European leader in automotive logistics, GEFCO has been supporting car and automotive equipment manufacturers at all stages of the supply chain for over 60 years. Providing a range of services from vehicle distribution to customization, GEFCO has created a complete offer of high value-added solutions to meet the requirements of industry professionals. To complement this specialized expertise, GEFCO also offers innovative IT solutions to ensure optimal operational efficiency and facilitate real-time monitoring of its services.
A tailor-made application adapted to field work requirements
The main task of GEFCO loading inspectors is to ensure compliance with the Group’s appropriate quality standards for automotive transport during vehicle loading operations onto car carriers. To facilitate the daily tasks of such personnel, GEFCO has developed a new tool – the “Loading Controller” application, available via Apple digital tablets, which supports teams during vehicle loading inspections.
The application, created in 2011 by the FVL (Finished Vehicle Logistics) GEFCO teams, is currently used in 7 of the Group’s subsidiaries (Brazil, France, Czech Republic, UK, Slovenia, Slovakia, and Poland), and will eventually be implemented in all of the operator’s branches. This modern application does not overlook any of the required quality standards: from vehicle cleanliness to loading safety rules, such as the mandatory use of personal protective equipment or the correct setting of loading ramp inclines.
Upon delivery to GEFCO vehicle centers, vehicles are handed over to dedicated FVL teams for management. For their further distribution, regardless of the length of the route they will have to cover, loading inspectors review them and check and identify any potential irregularities in accordance with established quality standards.
– The iPad application allows the loading inspector to perform all tasks without using paper, a pen, or a camera – emphasizes Morgan Bochet, Operational Quality Manager for FVL activities, recalling the beginnings of this project. – This simple, ergonomic, interactive, and intuitive tool, tailored to individual needs, was developed according to the requirements of specific professional groups. It significantly simplifies inspection operations and reduces all costs associated with paper usage (transport, printing, recycling), thereby contributing to minimizing the environmental impact.
Furthermore, a protective Kevlar fiber cover, also developed in-house by the Group, allows the iPad to be used outdoors in all weather conditions without the risk of interference.
A virtual companion to human expertise
Using the iPad, the loading inspector can now perform inspections with just a few clicks, saving themselves the tedious task of transcribing them onto paper, which was associated with the need to enter data into IT systems at the end of the day. Instead of filling out a paper list of irregularities, the employee easily navigates between different approval screens and enters data for subsequent mandatory quality control points. At the end, a summary of the inspection is displayed, and the car carrier driver and the loading inspector only need to provide their electronic signatures on the device, thus avoiding any disputes that might arise later.
GEFCO vehicle centers, located on international flow routes, receive drivers of various nationalities who arrive to load or unload transported vehicles. The “Loading Controller” application, available in 15 languages with the possibility of adding more, allows inspectors to quickly identify data, and thanks to photos taken using the tablet as well as charts and drawings, it also allows for the immediate indication of the causes of identified irregularities, all in the language spoken by the driver. This functionality makes the application accessible and always ready for use regardless of the country in which it is used. Adding new languages and information can be done remotely, which guarantees that teams are always using the latest version of the tool. Thanks to process automation, operational staff can free themselves from some of their administrative duties and focus on their core business.
Innovation in the service of operational efficiency
– IT systems play a key role in finished vehicle logistics. Thanks to the application’s compatibility with our clients’ systems (manufacturers, importers, authorized distributors), we can observe the execution of all stages of vehicle flow in real-time. Operational efficiency also means adhering to operational activity standards and meeting deadlines for individual operations, as well as using environmentally friendly products and energy in the process, not forgetting safety policy – said Andrea Conti, FVL Director at GEFCO Group.
The quality of the logistics solutions offered is a significant factor increasing the competitiveness of industrial enterprises at all levels of the supply chain. To provide its clients with the highest quality services, GEFCO has developed and implemented strict quality procedures that it follows worldwide and which it constantly develops and refines.
The “Loading Controller” application fits perfectly into GEFCO’s policy of continuous service improvement. The iPad connected to the 3G network ensures data transmission to the server both in real-time, if the network allows, and in deferred mode until network coverage is restored, without loss of data, which is recorded automatically. As a result, the connection between the device and the GEFCO center is constant and ensures the consistency and accuracy of the transmitted data. IT reports are generated automatically and are immediately ready for use. Once generated, they are sent to the production plant’s quality department and to the vehicle owner’s company.
– This application is a revolutionary solution, as it allows for the realization of all the mentioned goals. It optimizes the work of the loading inspector and implements the use of a digital tablet in the automotive logistics industry – explains Guillaume Chavanat, FVL Director at GEFCO France.