According to Arthur Conan Doyle, the literary genius behind detective Sherlock Holmes, ‘‘it is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data.’’ The ability to gather and interpret data underpins the benefits of predictive maintenance, promising cost savings and efficiency gains. As predictive maintenance looks set to become an industry standard, Roger Brereton of steering system manufacturer Pailton Engineering explains why parts suppliers are welcoming this development.

The UK currently faces a shortage of over 4,000 bus drivers. As the crisis begins to impact services, industry representatives and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are sounding the alarm and calling for more to be done. Here, Roger Brereton, head of sales at steering parts supplier Pailton Engineering, weighs in on the debate and argues that there are engineering solutions to improve conditions in the sector.

From Lennon and McCartney, to Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak – it is often the case that collaborative partnerships are more effective than solo efforts. It is no surprise then, that the world’s largest truck manufacturers are partnering with innovative startups. Here, Roger Brereton, head of sales at universal joint manufacturer Pailton Engineering, looks at some of the key emerging partnerships and the benefits they offer to OEMs.