Finning (UK)
Finning International Inc, based in Canada, is the world’s largest distributor of
Caterpillar civil engineering, power generation and materials handling plant. Our
work for its British division, Finning (UK) Limited, started in 2001. The company
sells and hires out new and used equipment and draws significant revenue from providing
services to customers. In an industry that had suffered a reputation for erratic
standards of customer care, it has established sound relationships with customers
throughout the United Kingdom.
Initially, we were asked to review the plans for reorganising the regional service
infrastructure. We worked alongside managers to ensure that the new structure met
all the company’s requirements and that the transition went smoothly. The next phase
went on to examine the systems for supplying spare parts by analysing the costs
and performance of the current configuration and its ability to meet future needs.
Another strand of the work assessed options for revising the operation, to include
a new, centrally-located warehouse and enhancements to the distribution system.
Meanwhile, we supported senior managers in integrating the substantial acquisition
of Lex Harvey, positioning Finning (UK) Limited as the market leader in the materials
handling sector. This centred on merging the sales forces, centralising control,
rationalising sites and introducing new systems. Savings have been achieved ahead
of schedule, allowing managers to accelerate the rate of change.
Most recently, we assisted in the analysis of potential savings that will accrue
from integrating back-office tasks throughout the UK, in Finning and its sister
company Hewden, which is the largest plant-hire company in Western Europe, with
over 300 depots in the United Kingdom.