Personal Information
Name: John M. Parritt
Marital status: Married
Nationality: British
Date of Birth: 7th January 1950
Profile
A highly experienced and respected Automotive Engineer, having excellent technical, management and customer care skills and the ability to motivate staff and promote team work at all levels.
Professional experience
TRUCKSOLVERS.co.uk, May 2015 - Present
Although I am now retired and therefore not actively seeking work, I will continue with my website "Trucksolvers" to answer any queries that anybody may have relating to my previous experience and also as a way of keeping in touch with old colleagues and customers. Thank you for your support over the years and I can certainly look back with fond memories of my career since starting with Scammell more than 50 years ago.
DRIVER & VEHICLE SERVICES AGENCY, January 2008 - May 2015
Vehicle Inspector
Tasks:
Carrying out MOT's on Trucks and Buses, applying and clearing prohibitions, Ensuring roadworthiness of vehicles presented for test and prohibition clearance, Assisting enforcement team during roadside checks.
HASTINGS DIRECT INSURANCE, September 2003 - October 2007
Staff Motor Engineer
Tasks:
Authorising repairs to policyholders vehicles and vetting repair invoices, whilst ensuring repairs are carried out in the most cost effective manner.
TRUCKSOLVERS.co.uk, March 2002 - August 2003
Running own consultancy business providing technical, engineering and arbitration support to commercial vehicle manufacturers, dealers and operators.
EUROTRUCKS LTD, Eastbourne, March 2001 - February 2002
Service Manager
Tasks:
Managing the Service Department of a MAN Commercial Vehicle, Service Dealer.
Achievements:
Introduced new warranty and maintenance contract claim submission procedure
Improved, achieved labour rates to over £32.00 per hour
Gained new customers eg; Grampian Foods, Co-op, TransAmerica Leasing, HSBC, TDG, etc.
Took on two apprentices under modern apprenticeship scheme with the manufacturer.
TRUCKSOLVERS.co.uk, April 2000 - February 2001
Running own consultancy business providing technical, engineering and arbitration support to commercial vehicle manufacturers, dealers and operators.
ROSSETTS COMMERCIALS, WORTHING May 1999 - March 2000
January 2000 - March 2000,
Depot Manager
Tasks:
Managing Service and Parts Departments of Mercedes-Benz Commercial Vehicle Dealership.
May 1999 - January 2000
Service Manager
Tasks:
Managing Service Department of Mercedes-Benz Commercial Vehicle Dealership.
Achievements:
Introduction of shift system to extend working hours from 6.00 am till 12.00 midnight.
Laying the foundations for team working and co-operation between the service and parts departments.
Introduction of bonus scheme for all staff. Leading to an increase in productivity.
Responsible for the operation and continuation of the ISO 9002 Quality system.
MERCEDES-BENZ (UK) LTD. September 1973 - April 1999
January 1992 – April 1999:
Regional Engineer
London and Southern England
Tasks:
Planned and implemented regular visits to dealers and customers. Dealt with technical, customer service and parts problems. Advised on improved repair techniques and vehicle modifications.
Had full warranty and goodwill responsibility in the field with annual budget of £200,000.
Convened and chaired liaison meetings with major fleet owners, produced minutes and ensured action points were followed up and implemented.
Carried out training at customers and dealer premises.
Carried out warranty material audits and administration checks in the field.
Compiled and updated customer database for mailshots and technical bulletins
Carried out talks and lectures to the I.R.T.E and FTA on brakes and Electronic Braking Systems respectively
Achievements:
Given responsibility to provide a solution to reduce tractor rear axle brake wear. This was achieved by optimising the braking area on the unit and by improving harmonisation with the trailer. With a resultant reduction in Warranty costs.
July 1979 - December 1991
Regional Service Specialist
East Anglia/East Midlands
Tasks:
To set up a dealer network and support structure and once up and running to set individual after-sales targets for each dealer and monitor performance.
To provide technical and after-sales support to dealers and customers.
To represent the Warranty dept in the field and administer the goodwill expenditure budget
To handle customer complaints and ensure a satisfactory outcome.
Achievements:
Carried out a full test and evaluation of alternative brake friction materials in order to overcome a specific problem that a large customer was experiencing with M-B vans. Had a solution not been found to the problem, the customer would have sourced his vehicles from an alternative supplier.
August 1976 - June 1979:
Service Training Instructor
Tasks: Instructing dealer and customer service staff on Maintenance and repair of Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicles.
September 1973 - July 1976:
Technician
Tasks: Maintenance and repair of Mercedes-Benz Commercial Vehicles at Mercedes-Benz retail dealership in North London.
During this time I worked in Norway for a six month period for a Mercedes-Benz Dealer.
SCAMMELL LORRIES LTD. August 1966 - August 1973:
Tolpits Lane, Watford, Herts.
Grade 1 Fitter; 1971 - 1973.
Apprentice; 1966 - 1970.
Tasks: Various departments involving the manufacture of heavy commercial vehicles.
Summary of qualifications
Royal Society of Arts; Engineering Drawing.
City and Guilds; Technicians Part 2.
C.S.E. Grade 1 in English, Geography, Metalwork and Woodwork.
Driving License; Full, including categories A, B, C, C1, D, D1. B+E, C1E, C+E (HGV 1), D1E, F, K, L, N, P.
Vocational Training
EBS and ABS Systems and updates; Knorr-Bremse UK Ltd Bristol (2013)
Commercial Vehicle Brakes; Daimler-Benz, Worth, Germany.
ABS Systems; Grau Bremse
Instructional Techniques, (training skills).
Public Speaking.
Problem Solving and Decision-Making.
Supervisor’s Development Programme.
Service Management, Marketing.
Service Management, Finance.
Service Management, Key Performance Indicators.
Consumer Law.
Time Management.
Presentation Skills.
Economical Truck Driving, Daimler-Benz, Worth, Germany.
Windows, NT, Exel, Word, Office.
Customer Care.
Education
1955 – 1961: Coteford Primary and Infant school, Eastcote, Middx.
1961 – 1966: Northwood Secondary Modern, Northwood, Middx.
(1965-1966): Bourne Evening School, Ruislip, Middx.
1966 – 1971: Harrow College of Technology.
Extracurricular activities
Whilst at M.B.U.K. as Regional Engineer. I served on the After Sales Guild committee, with specific responsibility for the newsletter for which I was a regular contributor of technical articles.
I also took an interest in the reports and meetings of the ETMC (European Transport Maintenance Council) and attended one of their Conferences, held in London.
Interests and activities
Walking, Motorcycle Racing, Snorkelling and Railways.
