Logistics and transport provider Gefco is preparing for the global deployment of its own iPad application, which has been designed in-house to facilitate the inspection of finished vehicle loading.
The ‘Loading Supervisor’ application has been trialled in seven of the Gefco Group’s regional divisions – Brazil, Czech Republic, France, Poland, Slovenia, Slovakia and the UK. It has been developed to provide a checklist of standards governing vehicle transport services for teams out in the field. Prior to shipping, loading managers can refer to the information included in the app to examine the vehicles and list any possible defects before having them corrected. Everything from the cleanliness of the vehicle transporter to rules on safety such as the compulsory wearing of protective gear or the adjustment of the angle of the loading ramps is included, according to Gefco.
“The iPad application allows the supervisor to carry out all these tasks without ever having to use a sheet of paper, a pencil or a camera,” said Morgan Bochet, MOA manager for Gefco’s Finished Vehicle Logistics division, which was behind the design of the application. “This is a simple, interactive, easy to use and intuitive tailor-made device, which has been produced with the requirements of the industry in mind. It will make the work of the inspector much simpler and will do away with all the costs associated with a paper-based system (like transport, printing, and recycling) and so will help to reduce the ecological footprint.”
The company explained that the Loading Supervisor simply moves from one check screen to the next, filling in the compulsory quality inspection points along the way. An inspection summary is then displayed at the end and the inspector and driver leave their electronic signatures on the screen to avoid any disputes later on.
The technology enables a permanent connection between the iPad and the respective Gefco centre, according to the company, which ensures that the data sent is correct and compliant. Computerised reports, which can be used immediately, are automatically generated so that they can be sent to the quality department of the site concerned, as well as to the company that owns the vehicle.
"Information systems in finished vehicles logistics play an essential role. Because they are interfaced with our customers’ systems (manufacturers, importers, dealerships), we can follow every stage of the vehicle as it is being processed,” said Andrea Conti, manager of Gefco Group’s FVL division.
