Michels Corporation - Brownsville, WI
Michels Corporation is one of the largest privately owned diversified utility, engineering, design, and construction contractor in the US, with critical expertise in linking systems for energy, communications, transportation and distribution. Their family of comprehensive construction divisions enables them to design and build the infrastructure that brings energy, communications, and transportation directly to their customer's doorstep. Fleet Group is currently deploying AssetWorks FleetFocus M5 across the Michels organization in the US and in Canada. Steve Eder is the Project Manager for the software deployment.
"After a Divisional reorganization in 2005, a new management team was formed with the task of identifying and prioritizing division needs.
One of the top priorities identified was to select and implement an automated fleet maintenance program. The current maintenance process consisted of hardcopy documentation which was not consistently applied throughout the division. I was assigned the responsibility, as Project Manager, for the overall selection and deployment of the software.
In my original feasibility study, I estimated the Equipment Division could cut operating expenses by $1,000,000.00. This savings served as the justification for investment in software and deployment, and provided the return on investment I was looking for. A team from IT, Finance, and Operations was created to assure a successful project implementation. However, as we moved through the project rollout schedule, it became obvious that we would need outside assistance in completing the implementation successfully.
I have personally experienced the pain of a poorly executed software deployment, and this was not an option.
The software vendor recommended Fleet Group to us based on our deployment needs. The two Fleet Group consultants we selected to help us with our deployment have over 35 years of fleet maintenance and management experience in the transportation industry, and over 10 years of software deployment experience.
Currently, they have worked with all levels of our staff – the mechanics and technicians, the supervisors, and managers. They are always patient and thorough, and always eager to help no matter what we ask of them. Also, they have taken the time to truly understand our business.
Because of their experience, as an organization we have been able to successfully introduce significant changes in our business processes, resulting in huge benefits to many departments within the corporation. They are forthright and honest and have presented concerns to our team - which were sometimes unpopular - but nevertheless felt it was the right thing to do. Because of my confidence in the consultants from Fleet Group, there have been times I have asked them to go above and beyond what would normally be the scope of an expected software deployment, and their performance has proved invaluable to the success of our project - and the Michels Corporation.
After nearly a year, we are just over half way through the deployment, and we have a great deal more work to do. But Fleet Group has been there to guide us every step of the way. There is no doubt in my mind – we could not have successfully deployed this software package without the help and support of the great folks at Fleet Group, and I will continue to keep them on board with us through the deployment process – and even afterwards for follow-up visits and additional deployments. Thanks Fleet Group!
In closing, we have realized significant financial benefits to date, and I anticipate exceeding my original expectations."
Steve Eder
Business and Technology Manager
Equipment Division
Brownsville, WI