Leading hire company chooses Unipart to provide world class engineering, distribution centre operation and spare parts
HSS Hire Services Group (“HSS Hire”), the national supplier of tools, equipment and related services, has appointed Unipart Group (“Unipart”) to operate its national distribution centre, for spare parts provision and to deliver “The HSS Way” – a unique version of The Unipart Way management system to drive world class engineering throughout its operation.
HSS operates a nationwide network of over 250 distribution centres and branches, and a UK and Eire logistics operation that ensures easy access to an extensive range of tools and equipment. Under the deal, Unipart operates a national NDC in Honeybourne, consolidates HSS’s spare parts provision through Unipart Logistics and employs Unipart Way practitioners to drive world class engineering standards throughout its network.
According to HSS Chief Executive Officer Chris Davies, the partnership with Unipart is an important part of the company’s commitment to its customers.
“At HSS, we’re committed to offering our customers more safety, availability, value and support, and, as part of this commitment, we’ve made some significant investments in our logistics, engineering and operational platforms over the past few year that have enabled the transformation of our entire national network. We’re now taking this to the next level working with Unipart to do so.
“Building on their proven methodology – which is known as “The Unipart Way” – we have asked Unipart to work with our HSS colleagues on “The HSS Way” delivering engineering, spare parts and distribution centre operations to the standards that they see in global automotive and aerospace industries.”
John Neill, Chairman and Chief Executive of Unipart Group, explained how Unipart will improve the availability of equipment for HSS customers.
“HSS Hire is the provider of a significant range of plant and equipment to a number of large contractors in industries such as FM, infrastructure, retail and airports as well as trade and DIY customers. HSS hire equipment to their customers and when that equipment comes back it needs to be tested, serviced and repaired at one of their main workshops prior to being made available for hire to the next customer. The quicker they can do this, the more product they have available to meet customer demand,” he said.
“Unipart has spent decades developing The Unipart Way and building the systems, processes and skills to get any item from anywhere in the world to anywhere in the world under total process control, while continuously shortening cycle times. Our partnership with HSS will continuously improve the great service they give their customers.”