Depot services

SERVICES

Insourced depot services ups efficiency and customer satisfaction

A few years ago, Steveco Oy woke up to the fact that depot services is an essential and central part of the company’s operations and service package, a core business that it wanted to gather into its own hands. The result – greater customer and staff satisfaction.

Text: Eija Anttila Photo: Steveco

The first site to insource was Vuosaari. A couple of years later the Mussalo container terminal also joined the initiative. Until spring 2018, depot operations were handled through a subcontractor, which now could be dropped from the depot empty container operations.

“Before we made a decision that was quite a big deal for us, we discussed the matter with our key shipping customers. They thought it was a good and important idea that would give them the whole handling chain directly from us,” says Tapio Mattila, Senior Vice President, Sales.

OVERALL RESPONSIBILITY

According to Mattila, insourcing depot operations was a natural and important move, not least because Steveco has an end-to-end responsibility for the entire package, whether or not a subcontractor is used.

“Even the customer knows whose head is on the block,” Mattila laughs. “But seriously, the depot service is an important part of our service.”

Many different adjustments were needed in the early stages of the operation, but now, three years later, Steveco is very pleased with the decision. Feedback from customers has also been quite positive.

THE RIGHT HAND DOES KNOW WHAT THE LEFT HAND IS UP TO

The insourcing of the depot service was a big deal for Steveco, not least financially. Jani Ylämäki, Terminal Manager at Vuosaari, says that the first thing was to buy machinery. Five empty container handlers were acquired in Vuosaari, along with reachstackers, container stackers and an empty stacker.

“The new operations also required staff to be trained in both handling the machinery and the inspection of containers,” says Ylämäki.

Steveco recruited new staff in Vuosaari, while the rest of the resources needed were available in-house.

In Ylämäki’s opinion, one of the best aspects of insourcing the depot service has been the way information now flows in a streamlined and faster process.

“When information moves only within the company, things get done more efficiently. The right hand always knows what the left hand is doing.”

According to Ylämäki, the operation is on the right track in Vuosaari, running smoothly and free of complications.

“The whole thing is on the plus side by far.”

Feedback from customers has also been quite positive.

WORKPLACE MOTIVATION AND WELLBEING

In Mussalo, the depot service has a slightly different operating model than in Vuosaari, but communication has become more straightforward and operations more efficient. In Mussalo, no additional personnel were needed for the depot.

Terminal Manager Niko Arola says that operations have started smoothly. Machinery purchases were necessary in Kotka as well, to the tune of eight empty stackers.

Arola considers the increase in staff motivation and improved work ergonomics to be two significant benefits.

“Even senior drivers have been enthusiastic about the depot as they alternate between driving straddle carriers and reachstackers,” Arola points out.

Ergonomically, the difference is that a straddle carrier driver looks downwards for most of the shift, while a stacker driver looks upwards to a height of up to 20 metres.

Overall, Arola sees a great deal of potential and development opportunities in the depot service.