Forklift truck selection and contract methodology

Evaluate

Inventory the company's forklift truck pool: nature and technical characteristics, age, quantity of utilization hours, purchase mode
Identify the full cost by type of current company's forklift trucks fleet. For it, structure the analysis discerning:
amortizations in case of forklift truck purchase (we consider generally that a forklift truck loses between 15 and 20 % of its value per year.)
maintenance costs
servicing costs
costs of use (energy...)

Identify the forklift truck that will answer your need

Identify the environment of utilization
statutory and legal obligations of certain environments: warehouses classified Seveso, risks areas,
warehouse: alleys width, height of last level of shelves, height under ceiling, ventilation / presence of premises to charge batteries, outside circulation...
Logistics operations: loading / unloading of trucks or containers, order picking, picking replenishment...
number of annual utilization hours

Identify the expected ergonomic level
A wise option is to consult:
the future users, the forklift truck operators, who will bring a field vision (circulation in alleys, handiness, necessary options).
The security department and the social partners who will bring important information on the risks of accidents connected to unsuitable machines.

Define the financing mode

We have 3 possibilities:

	Advantage	Drawback
Purchase	The most economic (no due interest), once the forklift truck acquired only remain the maintenance, servicing and utilization costs	Economic depreciation of the acquired material Plan the recycling of the amortized forklift truck Investment of cash in assets which could be out more useful financing more strategic activities Taxation on property (according to countries) Make difficult the fleet technological modernization Does not allow flexibility in case of activity fluctuation
Leasing	Predictable costs, fixed Financing assured by the manufacturer (the interest rates vary according to the manufacturer and the type of forklift truck) No financial immobilization Cost deductible from taxes	Plan the recycling of the amortized forklift truck
Rent	Predictable costs, fixed Financing assured by the manufacturer (the interest rates vary according to the manufacturer and the type of forklift truck) No financial immobilization Technological modernization of the fleet Flexibility (in case of changes of activty level)	Does not allow the property of the good at the end of contract

The choice between leasing and rent is determined according to each company financial policy.

Elaborate detailed specifications

functions expected from the forklift truck (estimated above)
its environment of utilization (estimated above)
the expected maintenance service level (detail the cities where will be located the forklift trucks) : spare parts availability, technicians quality level, reactivity, intervention leadtime, temporary replacement of faulty machines, costs...)
the financing mode (estimated above)

Proceed to tender with various suppliers

Evaluate the answers to the tender
technical answers (respect of technical specifications, energy consume, mandatory cheeks, insurance...)
budget
contract, especially local maintenance conditions

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