Collaboration is so important these days. Not only because of the power of collective problem solving, but also because collaboration provides a basis for comparison and can even help demonstrate due diligence.

We all know that when we share our thinking and encourage contributions some terrific and innovative outcomes can be discovered. In fact, the ability to nurture, encourage and build on the team’s knowledge and thinking is a core leadership skill.

Once we start to work together we can assess our processes and outcomes compared to our partners. This benchmarking provides a basis for continuous improvement as the cycle of planning, implementing improvement, reviewing outcomes and learning for the future continues. Further, by collaborating and working with proven and commonly applied systems we are more confident that we are on the right track and possibly better placed to demonstrate that we are using appropriate practices if held to account.

To me this is one of the great benefits of the IPWEA FLEET community. Resources such as the Plant and Vehicle Management Manual and Maintenance Safe Practice Guide, and professional development programs like our one-day Plant and Vehicle Management Workshops and Fleet Management Certificate provide a basis for a common approach to the discipline of fleet management and a basis for on-going improvement.

The 2018 Plant and Vehicle Management Workshops will run around Australia between 12 and 29 November 2019.