Peter Kruse

Marengo-based Nissan Forklift Corp boasts gains from streamlined production processes, increased sales and additional dealerships.

While withholding specifics, "we are pleased with the growth in our marketshare in fiscal 2010 (ended 31 March), especially since we were coming off of a particularly challenging fiscal 2009 due to the effects of the economic downturn," says Peter Kruse, president of Nissan Forklift. "From Nissan's perspective, we are looking at reinvestment now."

In Marengo operations, "we made some improvements to streamline our production", Kruse says. "We are continuously exploring new methods to drive efficiency and reduce lead times, all while staying focused on high product quality."

Online product sequencing strategies reduced internal lead times by more than 80% and added to the streamlined productivity. Applying the Japanese kaizen philosophy for continuous improvement of processes means "we can put more things online", Kruse says. "By getting better co-operation between engineering and manufacturing, we put things in and do not need to do them at the end" of the production line.

The Marengo facility has 456,000 sqft. (41,040 sqm) of which manufacturing activities occupy 356,000 sqft. (32,040 sqm). The plant uses 11 robots to weld masts, carriages and instrument frames, utilises electromagnetic-radiation laser devices and has found ways to in-source certain components previously made elsewhere.

Comparing fiscal years 2009 and 2010, Nissan orders for Class I, Class IV and Class V forklifts increased more than 70% in North, Central and South America. "We had strength across all" classes, Kruse notes. Nissan is reissuing a news release that erroneously understated the increase as "nearly 40%".

Jim Radous, vice president of sales and marketing, comments: "During a time when many companies are still struggling, we are thrilled that we have had such a strong finish to the year. Our dealer partners have been instrumental in helping us achieve this growth, and we are looking forward to continued growth and success moving into fiscal 2011."

Radous joined Nissan from outside the forklift industry and is taking an innovative approach in establishing dealer programs and working with the distribution network.

Nissan Forklift's American hemisphere operations include a network of more than 110 authorised dealerships with more than 240 locations throughout the Americas. "We added six new dealers" during fiscal 2010, Kruse notes.

During April and May, Nissan Forklift sales increased 30%-40%, "which is consistent with the (industry-wide) market increase" statistics from the Washington-based Industrial Truck Association, Kruse says. At this time, "we are not planning on that (percentage increase) continuing for the full (fiscal) year".

The Marengo site performs the principal administrative, fiduciary, marketing and distribution management functions of a stand-alone subsidiary. It handles assembly, fabrication and other manufacturing tasks in producing nearly 90% of the brand's forklifts distributed in the Americas. As needed, "we import specific products" from Japan, he says.

Nissan Forklift has about 300 employees. "We have added back people, and we have increased (per-day production) volume," Kruse notes.

Kruse joined Nissan Forklift in 2004 as chief financial officer and, a year later, received an additional assignment for general management of the firm's Latin American business.

As president of Nissan Forklift since 2009, Kruse leads all aspects of the business with a key focus on improving market share and cash flow and the development of new products.

Prior to joining Nissan, Kruse was controller of US operations for SPX Corp's Fluid Power Division in Rockford, Illinois; vice president of finance for Connector Service Corp in Franklin Park, Illinois; operations controller and manager of financial planning and analysis for Newell Rubbermaid Inc divisions in Bellwood and Rockford, Illinois; and director of financial planning and analysis for the pump group of Stamford, Connecticut-based General Signal Corp.

Kruse received a bachelor's degree in business administration with an accounting major from Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas and an executive master's degree in business administration from the Northern Illinois University campus in Hoffman Estates, Illinois.

Kruse's operations report as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nissan Forklift Co Ltd of Yokohama, Japan. Parent company Nissan Motor Co Ltd spun off its global forklift-focused industrial machinery division into the Yokohama subsidiary on 1 October.

As for the near-term future, "we have a couple of things" in the pipeline, Kruse notes, observing it is too early for Nissan Forklift to make any disclosures.