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| Mission Statement |
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| Our Values |
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12 September 2005
A well-organized construction site saves clients money
Lex van Loenen, assistant director of national accounts, Technische Unie, Netherlands
Construction site logistics is a critical process, especially when it comes to major real-estate projects. They are put up for bids with major price constraints in light of market pressures. We try not to obey such orders by offering low purchase prices. We anticipate the client’s processes. Research shows that only 55 percent of the client’s building hours is productive...
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Builders have to interrupt their work, for instance, because orders are not delivered or because they have to travel major distances across the construction site. Sometimes they even lose their equipment. By streamlining logistical processes, Technische Unie helps installers cut down on the number of wasted hours by 10 to 15 %. Lex van Loenen explains how Technische Unie helps the client save time and money by working efficiently.
Sonepar: As a wholesaler, how do you manage to increase the number of inefficient hours by at least 10 %?
Lex van Loenen: Not only do we provide the right materials just in time, we also ensure that it is delivered expeditiously to the construction site. This way, each builder has the requisite materials. We also deliver customized materials. For instance, if a client wants 83 meters of cable, we deliver the right amount and to the right place. This saves time because it eliminates the need to remove the exact amount of cable from the reel and to transport to the location.
Sonepar: When did Technische Unie get involved in construction site logistics?
LVL: We made our forays with the construction of a hospital in Nimègue. The system we developed was highly successful. Marijke Kompier, a business economics student who wrote her thesis on this project, is now working for Technische Unie, modeling the construction site logistics system. We are working on the construction of four other large hospitals in the Netherlands. We will soon take on a building project in Amsterdam. Technische Unie’s core strength lies in its ability to deliver a comprehensive offer: electrical, washroom facilities and heating. Technische Unie is a one-stop shop. What’s more, the entire order can be completed online, for maximum efficiency.
Sonepar: But doesn’t this approach require a lot of preparation on the part of the client?
LVL: We start negotiating with the client at a crucial moment. We then work together to come up with an effective logistical process. For this, we set up a special “efficiency” team. Our work is always tailored to meet the client’s specific needs. The client is willing to pay the commission for this service and to invest the time necessary. But this investment pays off. In the south of the country, we are building one of the largest hospitals in Netherlands, representing a real-estate project of some 220,000 hours.
Sonepar: Is this the way of working in the future?
LVL: In terms of large real-estate projects, absolutely. The Netherlands invests heavily in hospitals, which offers a unique opportunity for Technische Unie. The logistics service delivery work group is reviewing every opportunity that logistics processes offer. We are also looking into delivering orders at night, and leaving them in the builder’s car. This way, materials will be delivered to the warehouse of the client, who can start using them the following morning. We also provide pre-manufactured, pre-assembled equipment, to be delivered to construction sites. Developments are expeditious. Increasingly, Technische Unie is sitting in the director’s chair. This is a role we are only too eager to play because seamless flows and site operations enable our clients to work much more efficiently.
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