Alexander Dennis, a subsidiary of NFI Group Inc., one of the world’s leading independent global bus manufacturers, today announced that it has welcomed a new Head of Operations in its aftermarket area, AD24.

Mark Williams joins Alexander Dennis as Head of Operations for Aftermarket with 25 years’ experience in operational management, two decades of which was spent at consumer goods giant, Procter and Gamble.

The senior appointment will see Mark oversee operations for all areas of AD24 which incorporates supply of spare parts to customers, mobile technicians and service centres.

Whilst the business has announced plans to significantly invest in its market-leading online platform (www.ad24.direct), Mark will play a key role in also optimising teams and blending traditional and modern approaches to continue to offer the highest level of customer service.

Mark, who will be based at the company’s Skelmersdale facilities and will lead a team of 67, said upon joining Alexander Dennis; “Through further operational efficiencies, my aim is to provide more focus and support for the teams that provide AD24 services to our customers. This is already underway with the reorganisation of the management team to set AD24 up for the future.

“The bus and coach industry appealed to me as it’s on a significant journey of evolution, as is AD24 with its ambitious growth plans. Our vehicles are leading the way with regards to battery-electric and hydrogen technology whilst the need for good public transport is prevalent.”

Mark’s remit will also include streamlining the warehousing and logistics processes. Alexander Dennis’s Aftermarket parts service stocks more than 33,000 products, ships over 1700 lines a day and has a 90% next day delivery rate to customers.

Mark said: “The parts area of our aftermarket offering is a largely manual picking and packing operation and our team deliver outstanding service already with a picking accuracy of 99.6%. There is always room for improvement though and so we will continue to build the capability of our teams and modernise the way we store product. This will allow us to increase product variety and improve the entire order fulfilment process for our customers”.

Parts are available via AD24 for all major manufacturers’ vehicles, not only Alexander Dennis buses and Plaxton coaches.

Mark added: “Our long-term aim is to get all of our warehousing under one roof. This will provide significant benefits to both the business and most importantly our customers.”