Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/488002
In the new model, GardaWorld and its services replace banks at the epicenter of the cash supply chain, with armored trucks serving as links in the chain. Both clients and the banks — unencumbered by the costly security aspects that bank- ing had traditionally entailed — have embraced it. "We transformed the industry," says Jamroz. Buying trucks What remained the same, however, was the model by which GardaWorld procured its equipment, according to Senior Vice President of Operations Charles Roberge. "In the past we'd buy 20, 50, 100 trucks at a time, from various OEMs," says Roberge. "We'd send them to Cambli (Cambli International is an armored truck body manufacturer based in suburban Montreal) and they'd always have to move some things on the truck in order to outfit it properly, or change the spec. The process was long, expen- sive and inefficient. They had to unbuild before they could build." There were a variety of specs in the GardaWorld fleet, all of which matched applications that differed based on geog- raphy or the specific, intended use of the vehicle. For example, a truck that could hold a heavy load of coins on pallets might spec differently than one that regu- larly replenished ATMs. It was then that Cretier and his team began looking at ways to gain efficiency, both in production and delivery of their equipment — and the resulting cost — as well as in street operations. "Our team would tell me, 'We reduced the cost of our trucks by 15 percent,'" says Cretier. "I'd say, 'Let's reduce it by 40 percent.' And they'd say, 'Oh, boss, you're never satisfied,' but what I wanted to find was a partner that was interested in building a new partnership, who would transform and develop new efficiencies in the way we built and took delivery of our trucks. We wanted J-I-T delivery." To achieve such efficiency — both in cost and time — would require a single, versatile spec. Says Roberge, "We decided to look at one truck to serve 90 percent of our needs, instead of so many trucks more specifically suited to each of them." After a review of several truck candi- dates from various OEMs, GardaWorld personnel selected the Peterbilt Model 330. Its performance characteristics, dura- bility and reliability in particular, helped the Model 330 chassis make the grade, but what really intrigued GardaWorld personnel was the means by which it could be produced by Peterbilt, have an armored body installed and delivered. Given the repeated processes result- ing from a single spec — and the fact that no longer was an "unbuild" required on a newly delivered chassis before the "build" could begin — production engineers from Cambli and Peterbilt were able to opti- mize production efficiencies. The fact that the Model 330s would be built at Peterbilt's Ste.-Therese facility (also sub- urban Montreal, and in close proximity to Cambli) helped efficiency as well. Some previous purchases had been delivered to Cambli from Mexico. The bottom line offered cost savings that could only result from a high-vol- ume partnership and commitment. 12 l FIRST CLASSCLASS Senior Vice President of Operations Charles Roberge (left) and President and COO Chris Jamroz helped build the GardaWorld model for truck procurement and cash services.