Boral Delivery Process Improvement

One Imarda example of standardization and flexibility in action can be seen in the following Boral case study. This is an excellent example of a concrete industry business process being supported by the benefits of Imarda fleet management solution.

Boral Limited, Australia’s largest supplier of building and construction materials, called on SmartTrack when they needed to improve their concrete delivery processes.

The Opportunity

Boral Limited is Australia’s largest supplier of building and construction materials employing more than 15,000 staff across 650 operational sites in Australia, the US and Asia.

Of the diverse range of construction materials Boral produces and delivers – from quarry products, bricks, pavers, tiles, plasterboard to windows and timber – concrete is the most time-critical. For both Boral and its customers, concrete deliveries require a high level of planning and control, to prevent wastage and delays in construction projects.

In the past, each of Boral’s concrete production sites has operated its own scheduling system, making it difficult to maximize deliveries across metropolitan areas. The use of two-way radio systems in trucks did not support automation of time-consuming processes, such as co-coordinating sequential pours for major projects or assigning locum trucks for delivering additional resources for large orders.

Appreciating the advantages of streamlining and improving the delivery processes, Boral conceived and developed an advanced information system that promises significant benefits to the company’s Australian concrete customers. To help achieve this vision, Boral partnered with SmartTrack and Optus, companies with a high level of construction industry experience and an excellent track record for meeting customer’s specific needs.

The Solution

Boral’s new concrete delivery system is a leap forward in technology use, enhancing the day-to-day operations of its concrete production and supply business. Each truck in Boral’s fleet is being equipped with a SmartTrack Wireless Internet Protocol (IP) device that transmits to base via the Optus General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) network, indicating its precise geographical location. On commencement and completion of each pour, a message updates the SmartTrack Gateway and Boral’s delivery system with accurate information which can then be forwarded to Boral customers through their customer service operators.

The new application integrates closely with Boral’s recently enhanced order entry and dispatch systems, providing a centralized view of their entire operation. This has enabled Boral to establish Customer Service Centers in key regions, providing customers with fast access to complete and accurate information on concrete order and delivery status.

The foundation for the new system is the SmartTrack in-vehicle equipment and software that provides:

• Wireless access between each concrete truck and Boral’s corporate communications network
• Secure, automated authentication
• Always-on connection

Successful Outcome, Concrete Benefits

Boral’s improved concrete delivery process offers the Australian building and construction industry tangible business benefits:

• Better scheduling: concrete deliveries are pinpointed to within seconds.
• Reduced administration: automated notification and real-time reporting have replaced manual processes.
• Lower costs: improved business efficiency leading to less spoilage and wasted employee time.
• Greater control: better handling of special orders and product mixes.
• Scalability: streamlined management of major concrete pours enabling coordinated deliveries from multiple supply plants.

The new concrete delivery system represents a multi-million dollar investment by Boral in improving its customer service levels. 2005 saw this new delivery system revolutionize concrete deliveries in New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria. During 2006 it will transform the delivery of concrete products throughout Australia – adding the metropolitan sites in Western Australia and South Australia as well as a number of country locations.

SmartTrack are also rolling out systems to other divisions throughout Australia. This will benefit Boral customers throughout the building project lifecycle, by enhancing order and delivery processes and providing efficient tracking of materials – all the way from the ground up.