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A pierce team member and his customer standing next to a Pierce fire truck inspecting it from top to bottom and using a checklist. Manufacturing fire trucks takes attention to detail, innovative design and craftsmanship and employees driven by a passion for supporting first responders. Every truck makes a significant impact on the community it serves. As a result, before any truck is released from Pierce Manufacturing’s facility, it must undergo an extensive final inspection process.

What Is Pierce’s Fire Truck Final Inspection Process?

The final step in the manufacturing process allows fire department representatives the opportunity to inspect their fire trucks and test components as required. Over the course of a few days, the truck will be reviewed from bumper to tailboard, the undercarriage to an aerial device, to ensure every component, nut, bolt and screw is in optimal condition.

Learn the steps your fire department should expect during the final inspection process and the three-step process that has helped Pierce attain its reputation for exceptional quality and customer service, below.

Step #1: Final Product Evaluation

A Pierce employee is performing a final product evaluation by inspecting this fire truck with great detail using a documentation system on his tablet.The final product evaluation is a critical step in the manufacturing process. During this evaluation, Pierce employees review between 150-200 points of inspection based on the truck model, design and any included custom components.

The goal of this final evaluation is simple: confirm the truck includes every item detailed in the customer order, is functioning as designed and meets Pierce’s high-quality standards.

The final product evaluation typically includes the truck owner team and in some circumstances an engineer or requirements manager will support this team with items that need to be reviewed. This team completes an inspection of the apparatus with the customer order and reviews the list item by item.

If any items need to be addressed, from workmanship to assembly, the team writes up a task in Pierce’s truck builder program. These tasks are reviewed and corrected and if required, the manufacturing process is adjusted to make sure repetitive issues can be identified and eliminated in future orders.

Once the final evaluation and required adjustments are complete, the fire truck undergoes an extensive detailing process. The entire truck is cleaned, buffed and polished to showroom quality condition, so it’s ready for the final customer inspections take place.

Step #2: Final Inspection With the Customer

The final customer inspection usually includes firefighters from the purchasing fire department and the customer’s dealer.

Typically, the customer will take their order and options-list and go through each item, one by one. Using an innovative computerized reporting system, called e-pickup, the customer can document any items they find that do not meet their expectations; these may include incomplete options or workmanship repairs, like a paint blemish, loose screw or wiring malfunction. Once these items have been documented, a Pierce manufacturing representative, the requirements manager, the customer(s) as well as the sales representative all review the list together so that everyone understands what needs to change.

Any requested repairs are also marked directly on the truck with a piece of blue tape, so the manufacturing team knows exactly where any changes or minor repairs need to be addressed. 

Pierce representatives and customers talk and final inspect their fire truck on the Pierce Blue Floor.

The Importance of Component Testing and Training

After an inspection of the apparatus, customers have the opportunity to drive the truck and test components. Depending on the type of chassis and selected components, this could include driving the truck, running the generator, testing aerial devices with a specialized Aerial trainer.

During this time, the customer can review the parts, components and innovative technology with an experienced member of the Pierce team to be sure they fully understand all operating procedures.

A Focus on Quality and Consistency

Pierce employee shows the quality of Pierce’s fire truck by inspecting the fire truck with the customer.

Pierce’s final inspections are quality-focused, ensuring the best product for customers. But what key elements really set Pierce apart from other fire truck manufacturers?

  • Internal Inspection Comes First. At Pierce, the manufacturing team does a full inspection before a customer sees the final product.
  • All Employees Follow ‘The Pierce Standard’. Pierce’s high-quality standards must be met before anything is released for customer review. Additionally, the Pierce team is always learning and adapting best practices to adjust if they find a better way to complete a task or exceed customer expectations.
  • Truck Ownership Teams Know Their Customers. When a customer purchases more than one apparatus or a series of trucks, they are paired with a truck ownership team, who manages every truck they order. With this approach, Pierce employees really get to know their customers’ needs and preferences, improving customer service and Pierce’s ability to deliver an exceptional final product.

Learn more about why an experienced workforce matters in fire truck manufacturing.

Step #3: Final Adjustments Before Delivery

An image of a document with pictures and notes made next to them of the final adjustments that were made prior to delivery. Once the Pierce team reviews the e-pick tool modification requests and completes a walk-around to review the marked blue tape areas of the fire truck, final adjustments are made.

Fire trucks are brought back to the manufacturing bays and every point of repair inputted is documented and photographed to show the customer all adjustments have been completed.

Once complete, the Pierce team does another 10-point inspection to confirm all final quality items are functioning appropriately. To provide the best possible customer service, the same team that completed the initial final product evaluation also reviews the customer modification requests and is involved in the final 10-point inspection. With this final inspection, the truck is released for shipping and prepared for final delivery.

A final 10-point inspection before the truck is released helps ensure every truck leaves Pierce facilities with the highest quality standards.

What Is Pierce’s Fire Truck Delivery Process?

When your fire truck is ready for delivery, customers select an appropriate delivery date and location. The majority of deliveries are made directly to local dealerships through:

  • Dealer or Customer Pick-Up. Some customers and dealers choose to drive their fire trucks home immediately after everything is complete and ready to go. This can be arranged with the Pierce Manufacturing team.
  • Third-Party Delivery Service. Many fire departments choose to work with Pierce to arrange for third-party delivery. Pierce works with two providers, located in Wisconsin and Missouri, that offer Pierce-trained drivers. This is often the most convenient delivery option for fire departments.
  • U.S. Port. For overseas truck delivery, fire trucks are driven to the nearest U.S. port, where Oshkosh Corporation ISS group manages the final delivery.

Please contact Shelley Drews (sdrews@piercemfg.com) if you are interested in delivering Pierce apparatus.

Pierce customers inspecting their final pierce fire apparatus and being shown the benefits of the truck as well as preventive maintenance tips.

After your truck is delivered, consider the benefits of preventative maintenance and learn more about Pierce’s parts and product support.

Behind every fire truck at Pierce is a team of dedicated employees whose mission is to create a custom fire truck according to the needs of a fire department. With this task, employees take great pride to ensure no detail is overlooked and the final product exceeds customer expectations.

Take a look at some of Pierce’s recent fire truck deliveries now.

Do you have any additional questions about fire truck final inspections? Let us know in the comments!

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Topics: Pierce Manufacturing, Inc.


About Pierce Manufacturing
Pierce Manufacturing Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation [NYSE: OSK] company, is the leading North American manufacturer of custom fire apparatus. Products include custom and commercial pumpers, aerials, rescue trucks, wildland trucks, mini pumpers, and homeland security apparatus. In addition, Pierce designs its own foam systems and was the first company to introduce frontal airbags and the Side Roll Protection system to fire apparatus. To learn more about Pierce, visit www.piercemfg.com.

About Oshkosh Corporation

At Oshkosh (NYSE: OSK), we make innovative, mission-critical equipment to help everyday heroes advance communities around the world. Headquartered in Wisconsin, Oshkosh Corporation employs approximately 17,000 team members worldwide, all united behind a common purpose: to make a difference in people’s lives. Oshkosh products can be found in more than 150 countries under the brands of JLG®, Hinowa, Power Towers, Pierce®, MAXIMETAL, Oshkosh® Defense, McNeilus®, IMT®, Jerr-Dan®, Frontline™ Communications, Oshkosh® Airport Products, Oshkosh® AeroTech™ and Pratt Miller. For more information, visit oshkoshcorp.com.

®, ™ All brand names referred to in this news release are trademarks of Oshkosh Corporation or its subsidiary companies.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains statements that the Company believes to be “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact, including, without limitation, statements regarding the Company’s future financial position, business strategy, targets, projected sales, costs, earnings, capital expenditures, debt levels and cash flows, and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. When used in this news release, words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “should,” “project” or “plan” or the negative thereof or variations thereon or similar terminology are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors, some of which are beyond the Company’s control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include the Company's ability to successfully integrate the AeroTech acquisition and to realize the anticipated benefits associated with the same; the risks associated with international operations and sales, including compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act;  the Company’s ability to comply with complex laws and regulations applicable to U.S. government contractors; cybersecurity risks and costs of defending against, mitigating and responding to data security threats and breaches impacting the Company; the Company’s ability to successfully identify, complete and integrate other acquisitions and to realize the anticipated benefits associated with the same; and risks related to the Company’s ability to successfully execute on its strategic road map and meet its long-term financial goals. Additional information concerning these and other factors is contained in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this news release. The Company assumes no obligation, and disclaims any obligation, to update information contained in this news release. Investors should be aware that the Company may not update such information until the Company’s next quarterly earnings conference call, if at all.

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