It is more than three years since PPL began its pre-packing service in partnership with Turners (Soham), which carries out the storage and distribution of Turners PPL.
The success of the service it has delivered to one of the largest produce companies in the UK is an example of how consolidation can work for suppliers to multiples. Now PPL is implementing measures to further increase its efficiency through improving the performance of its employees.
Director’s Gavin Knight and David Bateman said: “The future of the business and its ability to attract new customers does not just depend on the savings and efficiency offered by a consolidated site, but also on putting its customers’ requirements at the forefront of its business strategy.
“The difference in the service offered by PPL today and a year from now will be achieved through the implementation of a training and development programme for every one of our staff - from the person applying a label to the manager of a department.”
Price-based competition at retail level has piled more pressure throughout the supply chain and service providers are faced with the challenge of reducing costs, while simultaneously maintaining and improving their levels of service. Knight added: “Automation is not always possible where quality selection and small production runs are required. Another dimension has been added to the training needs of today’s workforce and that is an understanding of different languages and cultures. With the widening of the EU the face of the workforce has changed and will continue to do so. Addressing the individual needs, and training them to meet those of the company, has become one of our top priorities.”
To meet these challenges and improve the service delivered to customers, Turners PPL has created a new internal position of training and development officer. “The main objective of the position is to improve the quality and efficiency of the work done in every position. Provided this is achieved, we are confident it will improve company returns and provide a high quality and value-for-money service to the customer,” said Bateman. “The approach is not new and is used widely and successfully in other manufacturing business sectors, but is rarely seen in produce service provision. Correctly implemented and maintained this approach will certainly place PPL above the rest.”
The approach follows a simple and proven track. Firstly, each job in the operation will be analysed to identify its training needs and the most relevant training method. Using the VAK (Visual, Auditory and Kinasthetic) or show, tell and do principle, the training media is then created.
Turners PPL recognises the importance of all staff receiving adequate training and being regularly reviewed. This process will also cover labour supplied by external agencies. PPL works closely with three carefully selected agencies, who will train the staff provided to PPL according to their requirements.
In addition to training and development, PPL also has new machinery on trial that is designed to handle fruit more efficiently, and reduces ‘give-away’ by measuring weight more accurately. Re-packing inevitably can cause stress to susceptible fruit and can have a negative impact on shelf life.
The new machinery is designed to minimise the incidence of fruit impacting either with other fruit or machinery parts. The design of the machine incorporates more than 200 buckets - each passing over a weigh head, and software will select the buckets that are the best fit to the required pack weight.
“PPL expects that by focusing on our customers’ needs and delivering them in an efficient and professional service package, we will benefit both businesses and attract more business embarking on the consolidation route,” said Bateman.
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