The relationship between shipment manager Rink-Peter Groenveld of Moba BV and VCK Logistics dates to 1987. At that time, Groenveld worked for a company that supplied rescue installations for seagoing vessels. Pim Vreeman – airfreight forwarder at VCK – was his contact for logistics at the time and remained so while Moba started working with VCK in 2000. Is there a parallel between these sectors?
Rink-Peter: “Whether a machine or a ship is out of order, in both cases it often costs a lot of time and money. Therefore, timely delivery of spare parts is crucial. Our largest machines sort and package 230,000 eggs per hour. It would be an utter disaster if such an installation were to stand still for too long. We can prevent this together with VCK, wherever the customer is in the world.” I spoke with Rink-Peter about the logistical challenges of a machine manufacturer. In this blog I give you a report of our conversation.
Rink-Peter Groenveld, Team leader Shipping & Expedition at Moba BV:
Reliable delivery from Alaska to Argentina
Moba has customers all over the world. Currently, China, North and South America are the largest sales markets, but the Moba machines are also being used in Australia, Canada and Europe. The name Moba is also an abbreviation of Job Mosterd – the founder – and the location of Barneveld. The company manufactures all components of the machines by itself in Barneveld. The spare parts make their way to the customer via local sister companies in almost every country in the world. Groenveld: “VCK delivers about 3,000 kilos of parts for us worldwide every week. This involves ten to twelve thousand different parts. In other words, an extensive logistics operation.”
Screening of personnel speeds up the delivery process
After 9-11, the security controls on international transport of equipment and parts were also considerably tightened in Europe. That could cause delays at customs. Groenveld: “To prevent this, we have our employees screened by the military police. As a result, we have acquired the Known Shipper License. The result is that our shipments at the airport do not have to be passed through an x-ray scanner. This provides us with a huge efficiency advantage when it comes to an urgent shipment. Sometimes the urgency is so high that we put a technician on a plane with a part instead of sending it by air freight.”
No digital intermediary, but telephone consultation
There is deliberately no link between the systems of Moba and VCK. Groenveld: “We do inform VCK every week by email which batches with parts need to be transported to which places. But ordering is not automated. The airfreight sector is too turbulent for that. VCK always has the most up to date information about the offer and knows, for example, whether a carrier leaves shipments behind too often. In addition, there may be extra points of attention regarding certain consignments. These are matters we prefer to discuss by telephone. Half a word is enough for the people at VCK because we have been working together for so long.”
“By combining data about a certain part from different machines, we know even better when it needs to be replaced.”
Monitoring and preventive maintenance via the Internet of Things
Moba provides machines with sensors that are connected to the Internet, so they can be monitored remotely. Groenveld: “We can then see, for example, how long a part has been in use and how heavily it has been burdened during that time. That is an indicator of wear. By combining data about a certain part from different machines, we know even better when it needs to be replaced. That is the basis for preventive maintenance. Of course, a part can also fail unexpectedly, requiring immediate action. Then VCK not only provides direct transport by air freight but can also arrange road transport to the customer on site. VCK has an extensive network of local partners to supply that service.”
Someone available day and night to arrange transport
Most Moba machines run seven days a week. Logically, as chickens also lay eggs on weekends. If a part of a machine or the computer that controls the installation breaks down, it must be dealt with immediately. Keep in mind that there are Moba installations in every time zone. Groenveld: “If a sister branch does not have a certain part in stock, we have to act quickly. With VCK that is no problem. I have three permanent contacts that I can call on 24/7. And not just for the supply of spare parts. Example given, the installation of a customer in Israel which was destroyed by fire on Christmas Day. With the help of VCK, we were able to deliver a complete replacement machine to Tel Aviv within a few days.”
“With the help of VCK, we were able to replace a complete machine within a few days.”
How does Groenveld characterize the relationship with VCK? “The keyword is reliability – with a capital R – and that has led to a long-term relationship. Even after more than twenty years, I can say that VCK always keeps its promises. In that respect, I look forward to our cooperation in the future with confidence.”
Curious about how other companies react and anticipate to ever changing logistics market circumstances? Download the National Benchmark Predictable Logistics.