Under the hood of every DAF lies a wealth of pristine connected data—a gold mine for predicting a truck’s maintenance needs, as discovered by the Commercial Services department. That is, provided you know what to do with it. This is why they called on Pipple to pave the way toward predictable and, above all, controllable maintenance costs.
“We want our trucks to be taken out of service for maintenance as little as possible—and ideally never for unplanned repairs,” explains Mike Hoefeijzers, Director of Commercial Services at DAF. “Every day a truck is idle, it costs our customer money. And we also benefit from trucks that keep running like clockwork, especially since every buyer can choose to buy out the maintenance costs for their new vehicle.”
Preventing Damage
Preventive maintenance helps keep repair costs low, but it’s a delicate balancing act. Intervene too early, and you incur unnecessary expenses; act too late, and a minor issue can trigger a chain reaction of both visible and hidden damage—potentially leaving a customer stranded. Predicting when and what type of damage will occur is therefore crucial.
Historical Data
Currently, the truck manufacturer relies on historical data. Hoefeijzers explains, “We assign a specific lifespan to every vehicle component. Operating hours and the number of kilometers driven play a major role. However, as an innovative company, there is also some guesswork involved. We only know after a few years whether an improved component truly lasts 5% longer, as expected by our product developers.”
Real-Time Data
“We much prefer to send maintenance alerts for each vehicle based on its actual usage and current condition. Because our trucks are connected, we have access to the real-time data needed for this. The challenge is that we measure tens of thousands of variables, and we haven’t yet mastered the expertise to pinpoint the essential correlations.”
Model for Real-Time Cost Modeling
That’s why Hoefeijzers engaged Pipple to develop a model for real-time cost calculations based on a vast number of variables. He also asked them to turn the model into a tool that DAF can integrate into its own IT systems.
He found this both exciting and nerve-wracking. “My department rarely works with external suppliers—we do almost everything in-house. As a truck manufacturer, we wanted a specialist to help us solve this tricky data puzzle. The budget and deadline were tight, and I feared ending up with a thick, impenetrable report from someone in a white coat. But the opposite happened: we received a tool that we can follow and actually use.”
Understanding and Buy-In
“Pipple’s communication is exemplary. With every delivery, they explained everything clearly. They didn’t force a solution on us; instead, after each step, they outlined what they planned to tackle next. This approach fostered outstanding understanding and buy-in among all stakeholders.
Throughout the process, they felt like a true partner rather than just a supplier. They understood what we wanted and fully identified with our interests. At one point, our secretary even remarked, ‘Who is that lady working with us?’ referring to one of Pipple’s experts. That says it all.”
