Parts stock goes daily
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by Steve Banner • Both Renault VI and Leyland Daf have switched to daily deliveries of parts stock orders to all their UK dealers.
The new system should result in dealers having to carry less stock in depth. That means they will be able to afford to hold a wider range of parts, says Renault VI aftersales director, Dave Cownden.
Renault dealers contact the parts distribution centre at Dunstable with stock orders before 17.30hrs on Day One. The order can be further topped up on the morning of Day Two, says Cownden, and the whole consignment is delivered along with urgent VOR orders before 09.00hrs on Day Three.
VOR orders can be placed at any time up to 18.00hrs on the clay before delivery.
First-pick rates in dealers' own parts departments and the level of service to customers are being monitored closely so that they will not be tempted to chop stock down to dangerously low levels, says Cownden.
Multipart has introduced a similar system for Leyland Daf. "We also deliver VOR orders on a Saturday, and operate a hassle-free parts ordering service," says operations director David Little. "If a part is ordered so a technician can complete a particular job, and he finds he doesn't need it, the dealership won't be charged, provided it is returned within 21 days. However, the part concerned must be worth more than £25 at dealer invoice value."
Renault VI is pioneering the delivery cycle for possible launch in Europe. Belgian dealers, along with some French and German outlets, are now supplied from a central distribution centre in France. Cownden agrees that it is possible that UK Renault dealers could receive parts direct from Europe long-term.