Accessorizing construction equipment

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis is to create a guide for implementing a new accessorizing process at Volvo CE Finland. The idea is to investigate the problems with the current process, the ways of implementing new processes as well investigating processes used by other companies for accessorizing machinery.

Volvo CE Finland currently accessorizes machinery using the Service Workshop without any standardized method. The service workshop is currently under resourced for accessorizing as well as service work, and as such, the accessorizing process is not functioning as it should. Furthermore, the accessorizing method is too complicated and time consuming, which in part, has to do with the lack of restrictions on what accessories can currently be accessorized. This has led to the situation in which delivery times are impossible to estimate and the delivery of machines is constantly delayed.

Process planning is a combination of quality management, setting process requirements and the use of process models. Quality management is set by the ISO 9001 standard as well as some of the process requirements. Other process requirements are set by the needs of the process that is to be implemented. Lean Six Sigma is a process model that assists in implementing the desired process, reducing waste and increasing efficiency.

Swecon developed a new accessorizing process and implemented it in 2014. Their accessorizing process involved creating a whole new Accessorizing division with its own accessorizing workshop. This new process has increased the amount of machines that Swecon has been able to accessorize. Their process relies on salesmen selling standardized accessorizing packages which are then easier to accessorize. Overall their experience of the new process has been good.

The new process will require a new division inside of Volvo CE Finland as well as new staff. The process will require its own workshop or space in which accessorizing can be performed. The process will require new methods of working as well as standardization in the way accessories are sold. The new process will also require quality to play an important role in the way the process is designed and implemented.