DAF makes gooid use of computers
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With management time increasingly aa premium, computers are becoming \Atli administrate aids. DAF VCR system at Marlow grea-ly assists efforts to provide support and back-up services for transport management.
immediate requirements. DAF currently has 8,000 vehicles in operation on British roads, and by streamlining the parts operation, it has been possible for DAF to increase its parts sales by over 40 per cent. By linking the Marlow computer direct with Eindhoven, any parts out of stock can be quickly obtained which, in the case of a VOR order, would be by air freight.
Operation of the VOR system is simple. Once a dealer has found out that the required part or assembly is not in his own stock and also it is not held by other dealers in his area, he then telephones Marlow which gives him a direct line to the parts technical section.
Chassis number and parts requirement are noted, and by the use of a vehicle identification chart and microfilm reader the correct part number is identified and referred back to the dealer to double check that he has correctly selected the part required. Having ascertained that the part is still not locally available, the order is then accepted over the telephone and the computer programed to process the order.
Each dealer has a security code which must be given before his order number. The address for the delivery of parts, the parts required, the method of dispatch and the degree of urgency will then be accepted by the computer.
Several methods of dispatch are used by DAF and these include normal parcel post or Data Post, Securicor, City Link (part of Red Star), United Carriers, local transport, or the dealer can arrange collection himself.
VOR orders are accepted between 9am and 5.30pm, but there is a cut-off time at 3pm after which same day dispatch cannot be guaranteed. According to warehouse manager Tony Chapple, however, there is always a way to dispatch parts during the late afternoon.
Once the order has been accepted by the computer, a two-part Parts Picking List/ Packing Note is produced at the terminal in the warehouse within one minute of the computers acceptance.
The manager then allocates the order of the pick to one of his partsmen who selects the required parts and takes them to the order consolidation area.
To assist the partsmen the computer automatically rearranges the sequence of parts required on a multi-item order so that picking is carried out sequentially with regard to the location of parts in the warehouse.
When the order is complete the items, part numbers and order requirements are double checked and the picking list countersigned.
The picking-list number, which is also the invoice number, is programed back into the computer and a second-edition document is produced with the items returned to their original order sequence. This time the invoice copy is priced. The new packing note is placed with the parts and packed — the method and materials depending on the part, its size and proposed method of dispatch.
While the order is being packed and labelled, transport is arranged so that the package is on its way as quickly as possible.Obviously with an average of 40 to 50 VOR requests a day it is economic to batch wherever possible.
According to parts technical controller, Clive Spencer, the apparently high number of requests a day for a market penetration of 8000 vehicles is not an indication of unreliability, but more the result of DAF's policy of keeping all the vehicles moving and earning for the operators. The paperwork is 'sorted out later''.
Obviously this service must cost something otherwise it would be abused, and normal stock orders placed using the system, so congesting the real VOR order requirements.
There are no surcharges or reduction in discount, but the dealer must pay carriage for
normal service and out-ofwarranty VOR parts require
ments. This could be more than the discount particularly on heavy major units.
When each order has been finished the computer will automatically amend the master-parts stock records which, at the end of each day, can produce out-of-stock or low-stock summaries for transmission to Eindhoven.
When a VOR-required part is out of stock at Marlow, the dealer will be told so during the original telephone call. The parts technical controller can quickly ascertain when it is due to arrive in the UK if it has been back ordered, or make arrange ments to obtain it quickly: the method depending on the degree of urgency.
Manager David Rochester, analyst programer, Fioger Street, and his assistant, Chris. tine Dickey, are all confideni that the VOR parts-orderinc system will be of benefit to al DAF commercial-vehicle opera. tors and that the program now right. As the number cr parts in stock at Marlow in creases during the years aheac there will be no unnecessar) delays in documentation, selec tion and dispatch.
With transport managemen looking towards the mid Eighties, they are not just inter ested in the products them selves, but are also interested ir the availability of back-up ser vices. No vehicle coulc be completely trouble freE throughout its life, but a quidl get you out of trouble' servici is the next best thing.
As to the future of the DAI VOR programme, every deale could well have a termina directly linked to Marlow whicl would be used together will the telephones for all sales, ser vice, parts and administratioi requirements