Because FCS's client base primarily consists of local government agencies, transit operations and utilities, and because of our hands-on experience in this arena, we have become proficiently familiar with the local, state and federal requirements normally enforced in projects of this nature. We have managed local government fleet operations. Critical Issues

FCS and its staff fully understand the critical issues of the fleet operations at your agency. The ability to develop and implement a well-engineered plan that will allow a fleet operation to ultimately compete with the private sector is not an easy task. In a time of industry development when labor unions and management are, possibly for the first time, having to pull together to secure their employment futures, this is not an easy issue to approach. Usually, a study of the fleet operation will be met with some hesitation from some employees. FCS fully expects this and is prepared to address each concern individually.

The amount and quality of communications required is significant. The trust between the workers and management must be firmly in place if the ultimate goal is to be competitive and to reduce costs. These are the two largest issues that will exert considerable impact on this project.

FCS brings our proven skills in these critical areas to the project, along with other critical elements such as:

• Full understanding of the goals.
• Detailed implementation plan for recommendations, if required.
• Workshops to educate staff during the project.
• Open, honest and constant communications.

Team development processes that require workers to help manage the direction of portions of the study. Purpose of Relationship

The purpose of a consultant/ client relationship is to benefit from mutual learning and specialized education. Learning starts in the shop where the consultant learns the fleet operations from the inside, as no two fleet operations are alike. FCS is unique in this approach, as the founder of FCS, Mr. Wright, actually worked as a mechanic during his early employment at the city of Lakewood, Colorado.

This learning continues in the inventory and office areas as support activities must be well-engineered if the shop is to be competitive. The learning then shifts to the classroom where the consultants provide information pertaining to successful projects that they have helped to implement. Through an exchange of information, a well-designed plan is developed in draft form by the consultants for the city staff to evaluate. From the rough draft, a well-engineered plan is polished and presented to management for evaluation. The plan must have ownership from all fleet management employees. This is the real key to success. FCS consultants will act as the bonding element to ensure that all employees, mechanics, supervisors and management are on the same team and pulling in the same direction. This goal is achieved through interaction with all staff members.

Philosophical Approach to Meeting the Clients' Objectives

FCS evaluates the clients' needs and develops a detailed approach that includes the following:

• Develops clear and precise goals.
• Develops well-defined project deliverables.
• Assists in educating the staff on how to be competitive.
• Develops a forum that allows for joint management of the fleet operations by all staff members.
• Develops a project plan that is cost-effective, to implement and present to the forum.
• Provides leadership and on-time communications throughout the project.
• Assesses the competitive quality of technology used by each fleet management location.
• Assists in determining the human resources and structure required to be competitive.
• Organizes the initial plan so a starting point is pre-engineered and ready for review.
• Acts as a clearinghouse of information for the project.
• Develops long term plans to secure a successful business relationship between senior management and the fleet operations.

Value Added

FCS brings the following three Value Added elements to this project.

1. The experience and success of Mr. Joe Lucero, FCS's mechanical consultant.
2. Big fleet knowledge and experience provided by Mr. James Wright, Principal of FCS.
3. Extensive knowledge of most industry fleet computerized maintenance systems used by the majority of local government fleet operations. Complete tax and insurance information is available upon request.