ZF Services Australia has re-affirmed its commitment to supporting the local market, with a major overhaul of the business which will further advance its service readiness.
Leading the changes for the company is a re-organisation of its headquarters in the Sydney suburb of Arndell Park, with new warehouse and production systems pressed into service, which back up the constant technology progression of the ZF product.
The changes also include improvements in the management of warranty activities, dealer and partner service network development, warranties on remanufactured and repaired transmissions, as well as the option of transmission oil sampling and subsequent reporting.
The reorganisation in Sydney come 12 months after the opening of a new facility at Malaga, Western Australia, which doubled the size of the previous building, providing increased service capability and local parts support to an important market.
Supporting the supply chain, ZF Services Australia currently manages 52,750 active SKUs worth a total of $11 million (with $3.5 million in transit at any time), with products produced from 53 ZF factories worldwide.
Other major improvements include a 24/7 technical service line, and an all new mobile service unit, further strengthening ZF’s field service offering.
The telephone technical service is available nationwide by dialling 1300 ZF TECH (1300 93 8324), with calls charged at a local rate around the clock to a team of Australian based technical support experts.
The technical service line can assist with any ZF product issue, be it bus or coach, truck, construction equipment, military applications, or commercial marine, with all enquiries tracked in a database.
Complementing the phone service is ZF’s new mobile service van, which is fully equipped for any depot based service issues.
ZF’s service offering has also been enhanced by a revamped manufacturing workshop, which now utilises Kanban and lean manufacturing techniques to ensure quick turnaround times, while still maintaining original factory quality.
The culture change results in increased efficiency, which is achieved via upgraded tools, clearer communication lines, improved material management, and improved motion on volume lines.
The production facility is the cornerstone of ZF’s service offering, with a range of workshop-based or in-field programs, which maximise operational efficiency, while minimising mechanical downtime.
Solutions range from fixed price repair services, to preventative scheduled maintenance, all-inclusive life-cycle coverage and extended warranty options, which can be tailored to a diverse range of clients in numerous industries.
ZF factory trained technicians provide service support for the entire range of driveline products, with all repairs carried out exclusively with ZF genuine parts.
Manufactured on the same tooling, in the same materials, and having undergone the same quality assurance as the original item, ZF genuine parts carry a full factory warranty.
Equipped with the latest knowledge and skills gained through continuous local and international training, ZF technicians have access to specialist diagnostic tools such as the ZF Testman pro.
Routine servicing is the mainstay of ZF’s service solutions, with programs such as its Life Cycle Cost Coverage (LCC) program, the Extended Coverage Program (ECP), and its Scheduled Preventive Repair program designed to maintain systems in premium condition, at a known price, ensuring uniform reliability over the entire service life. They also enable the customer to plan preventative repairs for periods of low activity.
ZF’s various service programs offer considerable economies of scale, with discounts applying to service programs for large fleet operations.
ZF also offers its swing units’ as part of an exchange program where products are exchanged like for like, carrying full warranty protection, with the only downtime being the exchange process itself.