The project aimed to address the problem of empty pallets scattered around the warehouse floor by developing a forklift that could collect multiple empty pallets. Initially, those involved were supportive including the project team, tutor, and contact person 1. However, over time as the prototype developed and costs increased, support waned. The employees were resistant to change due to their performance-based pay. By the end, the tutor and contact person changed positions and it was clear the pallets were no longer seen as a problem. The project ultimately failed to secure investment from the company.

1. By: Oscar SANDBERG & Amrit SINGH Tutor:
04/04/12 Krzysztof Markowski
Project: The pallet stapling forklifter
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The project described below was conducted in the fall of 2009, as a school project. The objective of
the course was for the class to, in the form of small teams, look at the operations of an enterprise, and
together with them find a way to innovate the internal processes. The team that this paper describes,
consisted of 4 students that all studied the same bachelor program in Lund, Sweden, called Logistics
Service Management.
The project started with the team visiting the Company to get an introduction about how they worked
and what was important for their business. Thereafter the Contact person 1, who was the link between
the Company and the University, showed the team around the warehouse and other operating facilities.
During the tour, the project team and Contact person 1 talked about the problem they were
having with empty pallets that were scattered around the floor of the warehouse making it difficult for
the operating staff to work. The problem was that when a pallet becomes empty, there was not
anybody that would take the time to remove it and put it in the right place. The Operating staff had a
performance-based salary and prioritised to reach his/her daily percentage instead of taking time to
removing the empty pallets.
The 4 students wanted to do something about this and decided to look at ways to make this
process easier for the Operating staff and make the working environment safer. There was also a
demand for a more ergonomically correct working process for the employees, because the work was
stressful and very physically demanding.
After contacting both physiotherapists and forklift developers, the project team came up with a
prototype of a forklift that was able to gather a number of empty pallets without having to go back and
forth between the empty pallets and the docking point.
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Name of The
Actor
Role in Project Interest which they
Pursues
Degree of
buy in or
Hostility into
the Project
Added value
or Nuisance
The project
team
In favor, find solution
to pallet-problem
Enhance working
environment
High degree
of Buy in
High degree
of added
value
Tuitor
In favor, Guide and
support the project
team
Further connections
with the company
High degree
of Buy in
Low degree of
added value
Contact
Person No-1
In favor, inform about
routines and discuss
with project team
Seek a faster and
better working
environment
Medium
degree of
Buy in
Low degree of
Nuisance
Contact
Person
No-2
Against, discuss about
technical possibilities
A fast and smooth
process
Low degree
of Hostility
High degree
of Nuisance
The Company
Against, decide if to
invest
A fast and smooth
process
High degree
of Hostility
Neutral
The Forklift
Developer
In favor, discuss
development of new
forklift
Possible customer in
the company
Medium
degree of
Buy in
High degree
of added
value
Employees
(users)
Against, the user of
the forklift
A fast process High degree
of hostility
High degree
of Nuisance
Physiotherapist
In favor, discuss
about working
environment
regulations
Help project
team/enhance
working
environment
Medium
degree of buy
in
Low degree of
Nuisance
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Name of The
Actor
Role in Project Interest which
they Pursues
Degree of buy in
or Hostility into
the Project
Degree of Added
Nuisance Value and
Tendency to Evolve
Prototype
In favor, the model
of the fork lifter
A better working
environment
High degree of
Buy in
High degree of
added value
Pallets
In favor, cause of
the problem
To be handled
easier and faster
Medium degree
of Buy in
Medium degree of
Nuisance
Regulations
In favor, the
working
environment was
not legal
A better working
environment
Medium degree
of Buy in
High degree of
value added
Time
In favor, right time
to initiate the
project
Make the
process faster
Medium degree
of hostility
High degree of
value added
Performance-
related pay
Against, stating the
working condition
A very fast
process
High degree of
hostility
High degree of
nuisance
Cost
Against, Project was
getting costlier.
Low cost project High degree of
hostility
High degree of
nuisance

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“We saw that there was a problem with empty pallets ”
“Deeper analysis gave both followers and sceptics”
“In the end, even the tutor switch sides.
The project was dead!”
“First prototype and cost prediction”
“Anti-side grows as efficiency is doubted”
“Both contact people are sceptic to the project”
Human
Actor
Non-Human
Actor
Prototype 1 Prototype 2
Fact Fiction
Oct-2009Dec-2009

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Time Transitioning Comments Actors Involved
Oct-2009
There was a problem with pallets in the warehouse, and the
concerned person in the company wants to deal with it. The team
was assigned and started to work. Time was considered a major
threat for the project.
Pallets, The team,
Concerned
person,
Regulation, Time
Nov-2009
As we were working we realised that the employees was resistant to
change. The performance-based salary was not favourable for the
project as it was caused the employees to focus on quantity instead
of quality. By this time we (company) became sceptical.
The Team,
Employees,
Company, Cost,
Performance
based pay.
Dec-2009
It was clear that the prototype was too costly and the tutor and
contact person changed their position. We began to realize that the
pallets weren’t a problem any more.
Tutor, The Team,
Pallets,
Prototype,
Company
Dec-End In the end, no one was interested to carry on with the project. The Team
Oct-2009
Nov-2009
Dec-2009
Dec-End
Fact Fiction

7. Conclusion
The prototype was delivered to the Company but they decided not to invest in this kind of machine.
The main reasons why they did not want to invest was because the machine would be expensive, the
management did not see the potential and it was not interesting to the operating staff, which cherished
speed before comfort. Below one can see a more detailed description of the actors involved in the
project and what position they took on the project.

8. Oscar Sandberg Amrit Singh
The project had
potential; it
would have
succeeded with
little more
support
The project
wasn’t realistic
from the
beginning that’s
why it failed.
I like
hockey
I hate
hockey,
love
Soccer
sandbero@esiee.fr singha@esiee.fr