INDUSTRY INTERVIEW: W.W. Williams

Q: Tell me a little about W.W. Williams’ history.

A: Since our founding in 1912 in Columbus, Ohio, we have grown to become one of the nation’s largest industrial distributor, repair and service companies.

Our products and services expertise extend across a wide variety of industries and customer categories including the Department of Defense. We represent service and remanufacture some of the world’s most advanced and innovative diesel engine, automatic transmission, power generation and transport refrigeration products on the market today.

Our commitment to education, training and expertise means our service technicians have the capability and the commitment to meet all service needs effectively and efficiently.

In the United States we currently have 900-plus associates in 28 sales and service locations. Of those 900-plus associates, approximately 400 are certified technicians.

Q: Please provide some background on W.W. Williams and the company’s work with DoD in the logistics arena.

A: We started supporting DoD at the Marine Maintenance Base in Albany, Ga. We are a partner with MCLB LOGCOM, and we assist the base in rework of Detroit Diesel engines and Allison transmissions in various vehicles. We have maintained technicians on the base for several years.

Our next venture was to supply remanufactured transmissions to TACOM for the HMMWV that lead into producing HMMWV power packs—engine, transmission and transfer case—to Red River Army Depot.

AM General recognized W.W. Williams and approached us to supply and assemble transmissions and transfer cases to their engines for Letterkenny Army Depot. Today, we assemble approximately 50 powerpacks a day for the recap and reset of the HMMWV at both depots.

In 2005, we formed the Logistics Division to work with prime contractors in support of various initiatives including engine and transmission repair/rebuild/remanufacture, power pack assemblies for HMMWV, LAV, MK48, warehousing and line side support of depot reset/recap programs, up-armor kitting and packaging for operational support. W.W. Williams Logistics is an authorized distributor for HMMWV parts.

W.W. Williams Logistics worked with the Marine Maintenance Base in Albany on a quick-turn up-armor kitting project in 2007. The base was in need of a company that could quickly build frag armor kits consisting of side panels, under body panels supplied by MCLB, and hardware supplied by W.W. Williams. The contract was awarded, which provided for 30-day ramp up with the first 50 kits delivered on time. A total of 2,500 kits were supplied over a 120-day period. Each kit weighed in at approximately 3,000 pounds.

Q: What are your primary business areas, and what are the primary functions of each?

A: W.W. Williams has four primary areas other than the Logistics Division.

We are a Detroit Diesel Engines and Allison Transmission distributor. We work with on-highway freight carriers with repairs, parts and service when they experience mechanical trouble on the highway.

Through Carrier Transicold we provide on-highway refrigeration as well as container refrigeration for military containers. Next, with generator set sales and service, we provide stand-by power generation, offering single source capabilities for remote power generation requirements.

Finally, Williams Distribution has acquired exclusive manufacturing and distribution rights for current or out-of-date productions parts of several OEMs. These products come with full engineering and quality backing of the OEM to provide an uninterrupted supply of service parts. We are the sole source for the Allison TX 100 transmission in the M113 troop carrier.

Q: How is W.W. Williams helping DoD meet current key logistics objectives?

A: Our sole objective is to support the warfighter. W.W. Williams Logistics provides the parts logistics and line side support at various depots. We provide 100 percent on-time delivery of parts to the technicians building the vehicles being reset/recapped at the depot level maintenance. This allows for improved productivity, reduced costs and vehicles getting to the warfighter on time with the proper configurations.

Q: I understand that you were recently recognized by Letterkenny Army Depot for your work with them.

A: Yes, we were recognized in 2008 as the Letterkenny Army Depot Supplier of the Year.

Q: What are some of the new programs you are working on in partnership with DoD agencies and the military services?

A: Our latest contracts are for the support of prime contractors on the new Army IPV programs at Letterkenny and Tobyhanna Army depots.

We have also become involved with the logistics, warehousing and line side presentation of parts for new MRAP production.

Q: What are some of the main challenges you are facing in meeting the needs of the 21st century warfighter?

A: Inconsistent funding is probably the biggest challenge today because we often run as fast as we can, and tomorrow we stop because funding has not been approved. Because we are heavy into the vehicle business, the obsolescence of parts drives a lot of costs and frustration. ✯

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