INDUSTRY CONNECTIONS
on the specifications drawn up by Peter Crossan, the district’s fleet and contract compliance manager. Transportation Director Carl Allen said participa- tion in two pilot-model inspections since joining the
what we’re looking for inside to outside … right down to whether the decals look exactly the way we want. It was a great opportunity to catch things — and we certainly did — before they run the rest of the order.” While rare, customers may opt to probe even deeper
by delving into particular suppliers. A case in point was Blue Bird’s announcement that its next-generation propane-powered Type C Vision would be powered by the ROUSH CleanTech system, and representatives of that company met with current and prospective customers in Fort Valley. Te district’s transportation director is typically
present and active in the pilot-model inspection. “It can be any level of staff that provides a ben- efit and purpose. Tey know what they’re looking at, familiar with the specifications and familiar with their operations so that they can provide affirmation that, ‘yes, this is what we ordered’,” said Blue Bird’s Mitchell. Blue Bird has a designated inspection area for cus-
tomers to “go through the bus at their pace.” “It can take hours or days, depending on the com-
plexity of the order and what the customer is looking at,” Mitchell added. “We’re in the area to answer questions and provide documentation should the need arise.” Mitchell explained that a manufacturer’s R&D
team can “absolutely” learn ways to improve products through pilot-model inspections. “Anytime we have interaction with the customer and dealer, whether it’s on our property or elsewhere, we have an opportunity to learn something,” he said. “While we’ve been building buses for 86 years, we are always looking to further develop our products to meet the evolving needs of our customers.” Mitchell said the best time for an inspection is about a month before the bulk of an order is due. “Te reason is that no matter how well a spec-
ification is written, no matter how well our dealer interprets those specifications and communicates them to us, sometimes we need to make a correction. One month enables us to communicate with suppliers and make the necessary changes to satisfy the rest of the order,” he added. Boston’s Allen said the inspections create an atmo-
£ The pilot-model inspection process at Blue Bird enabled Boston Public Schools' transportation officials to triple- check all of the ordered specs on the bus.
district has given him a “perspective of how valuable they can be.” A Boston contingent that included Crossan, Allen and other key personnel recently inspected a pilot model as Blue Bird moved forward with a 58-bus order for the district. Te group was on-site several “pretty intense” days and inspected two types of buses in its order, Allen noted. “We take our specs very seriously. Tey are partic- ular to Boston with a very high spec for safety,” he added. “We know what we want. We know exactly
20 School Transportation News August 2013
sphere of crucial interaction, between Blue Bird and its dealers. “For Blue Bird, they see it as an opportunity because
we’re a big customer, very progressive in the way we do our work, and they like to brainstorm with us and engage our thinking on new features they want to put in,” he added. “For our dealer, it helps him understand our needs and wants for future years so it gives him valuable lessons he can take to his other customers,” he says. Allen said he expects to continue the practice. “For us, it is important. It helps us ensure we get what we want and we are very specific about that.”
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