Tuesday, 12 September 2017

Leyland Trucks

Tuesday 17 May saw a group of 17 Yorkshire Region members and guests make the perilous trip across the Pennines to Leyland Trucks state of the art manufacturing facility. Leyland's highly efficient 710,000-square-foot manufacturing facility features a technologically advanced production system which incorporates electronic work instructions to deliver engineering designs, build instructions and quality records to employees by interactive touch screens. Leyland builds the full DAF product range (LF, CF and XF models) for right and left-hand drive markets. The site is also the UK home of the successful PACCAR Parts business, who special in aftersales support and spares distribution across the UK and Europe. The company, employing 800 people, manufactures the full range of DAF product, of which approximately 50% is exported to all European Union markets and the wider world. The Company's future development is focused on the use of leading edge applications of information technology in all aspects of truck design, manufacture, procurement and logistics.

After passing through tight security, the group were warmly welcomed and provided with complimentary refreshments by their hosts in the exhibition area, free to wander around examples of the current DAF truck range as well as vintage examples of Leyland models from years gone by.

Host Rob Lawton then took the group through to the conference room where the event started with a history of Leyland Trucks, from the formation of the Lancashire Steam Motor Company in 1896, through the petrol engine commercials of the 1900's, to the introduction of diesel engines in the 1930's. The talk then covered the expansion of the company in the 1950's and 60's, before touching on the challenging days of the 1970s, before the new beginnings of the 1980's and the merger with DAF in 1987.

DAF itself fell into receivership in February 1993. A new DAF heavy truck business restarted in Holland and Belgium within a month, but it was a management buyout at Leyland Trucks in June 1993 that proved the salvation of truck-building in the town. A new arrangement with DAF established that Leyland Trucks sells to the UK and European markets through 'new DAF'.

In 1996 PACCAR acquired DAF and in 1998 Leyland Trucks. The period since 1998 has seen substantial growth in volumes and profit, and significant investment in product, facilities and people.

Following the presentation and questions, it was onto the factory floor itself. The tour started with the group gathered around a highly detailed scale model of the facility as Rob explained the processes and flow through the plant. The tour itself then started with Rob enthusiastically leading the group through each stage, providing an interesting and knowledgeable commentary and answering questions as the party moved on. Rob also covered working practices and the high importance placed on QA processes to ensure that the highest of standards were maintained at every step of the process.

As the tour neared an end, the group was shown some of the final check processes being carried out, including brake testing and chassis alignment check, as well as being given a view of the specialist body building line in the plant.

The visit ended with Yorkshire Region Chairman Ivan Marriott leading the traditional show of thanks to Rob for this excellent hosting of the event and to Catherine Benabda who organised the event.