GFT Ready Mix

ABOUT GFT READY MIX

GFT Ready Mix has operated out of Arizona since 1999. If you need ready mix concrete brought to a job site in the Phoenix Valley, these fine folks can bring it to you. With a growing fleet and client roster, this family-run business was ready to step up its shop management game.

WHAT GFT READY MIX NEEDED

COO Dave Brooks told us the internal shop handled maintenance, repairs, and DOT inspections for their own vehicles. They were using Whip Around, which was great for their actual DVIR and DOT stuff, but they were looking for something more comprehensive to manage the shop — but that software also had to play nicely with Whip Around, which they were still using for fleet management. 

CHALLENGE #1: TRACKING INTERNAL MAINTENANCE & LABOR

“We really were struggling with developing accountability on hours and anticipated hours,” he said. That’s especially important for internal shops, as their bottom lines are strongly tied to what they can and can’t get done. Dave, in particular, was looking for something that would show him how individual techs were performing. 

“We had an issue with mechanics running around and getting nothing done.” 

CHALLENGE #2:  EXPENSIVE OUTSOURCING

Because their fleet is so large and requires steady work, GFT Ready Mix had to take a practical approach to how and where maintenance was performed. “If we can’t do it [the work] efficiently, then it makes no sense to us to do it. [So we] outsource.”

Sending a unit to another facility for work is expensive. Very expensive. 

ENTER FULLBAY

The fleet and Fullbay had something in common: Phoenix. No, not the firebird that signals rebirth, but rather the fact that both are headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona. When GFT Ready Mix was exploring its options, the fact that Fullbay was right next door was appealing (and we’re always down to meet locals! But please, call us before coming over to hang out).

OK, its focus on shop efficiency drew their attention, too. 

BETTER LABOR TRACKING

Fullbay’s technician tracking features have pulled back the curtain on who is doing what in the shop, and how individual technicians are performing. Because the shop is a cost center as opposed to a revenue producer, Dave isn’t looking at dollars saved or earned just yet. Rather, he’s seeing tasks getting done faster.

“I do see we’re able to achieve more with less.”

A REDUCTION IN OUTSOURCING

Since bringing on Fullbay, GFT Ready Mix has seen a 20% drop in outsourced work. 

Nice number, right? They’ve managed to accomplish that even after growing their fleet (adding another 21 trucks in the last six months). “We’re able to get more done without having to ship out,” even with the added units, Dave said. 

ENHANCED COMMUNICATION 

Dave is particularly appreciative of Fullbay’s ability to measure data. “If you can’t measure an expectation and retain that and then measure the actual against it, you can’t assess whether or not you’re doing well or not,” he said. “So that has enabled great communication between our staff in performance and more importantly, success measures.”

TECHNICIAN TRAINING

The GFT Ready Mix team has found a particularly inventive way to utilize Fullbay: it’s augmenting their training program. They use Fullbay to “map” training sessions, assigning portions of work to different technicians so younger techs can develop and diversify their skills. “By doing that, we can get easy work done by skills appropriate for it, and more complex things scheduled accordingly,” Dave said. 

“I love where we’ve gotten thus far. The bridge between Fullbay and Whip Around is a huge benefit from a task management standpoint.”

ONWARD & UPWARD

Dave and the GFT Ready Mix crew continue to see benefits from Fullbay, and they look forward to exploring more of its features and options. They’re also still using Whip Around for DOT inspections and corrective actions. In fact, Dave was one of the customers who locked Fullbay and Whip Around in a room together and said, “Hey, can you guys work together?”

(As a side note, Dave reported that the Fullbay/Whip Around integration works well and has saved his staff a lot of hours, too.)