Through a collaborative effort, Cushman, a maker of utility vehicles for industrial use, has joined forces with Advanced Technology Services (ATS), a provider of outsourced production maintenance, to help develop The Ultimate Maintenance Vehicle (UMV).
ATS currently supplies production maintenance services to E-Z-GO and Cushman, both Textron companies, located in Augusta, Georgia. The collaboration began when Cushman wanted to get input from a professional maintenance organization on what needed to be included in the UMV.
ATS opened this direct line of input to several of the maintenance teams in plants that ATS provides services for with the promise that those maintenance teams would be able to use the product they helped design.
Thus far, there are three plants using the UMV to do their maintenance activities, which has helped all of them lower their response times.
Some of the features that ATS suggested were:
- Wireless laptop setup featuring Panasonic Toughbook
- Retractable power supply cords
- Ultra-bright headlights
- Heavy-duty mounted vise
- Chrome deck
- Removable ladder holder
- Customer tool box
According to Don Johnson, vice president of marketing for ATS, "The project is a work-in-progress and has given Cushman valuable input and exposure to ATS’ customers. Not to mention, ATS is thrilled to be able to use the handy maintenance machines in the process."
Some of the unique features that the UMV incorporates are:
- A retractable safety barrier
- A mounting pedestal for a laptop computer to monitor ATS CMMS systems
- A front and rear light kit to illuminate dark areas
- Amber visibility light
- An extra-long, 20-foot recharge cord that is mounted out-of-sight on a retractable coil
- Heavy-duty 1000 lb. hitch
- Folding ladder holder
- Adjustable back rest
- Cargo rails
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How would you improve The Ultimate Maintenance Vehicle? Let us know what you think. |
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Your responses
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I would add:
Ron Martindale |