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Now SA speeds spares

6th May 1977, Page 63
6th May 1977
Page 63
Page 63, 6th May 1977 — Now SA speeds spares
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

ABURNING QUESTION in the minds of operators is that of spares availability when a revenue-earning vehicle is off-the-road. So in talks with Seddon Atkinson executives

I was pleased to learn the lengths to which SA goes to improve the efficiency of spares distribution.

Vor spares are dispatched promptly if this is humanly possible.

"If we have no stock in the stores we will get the necessary part from the production line. We regard this as a basic element in our philosophy,said Dennis Palliser, director of supplies.

Mr Palliser, and the parts marketing manager, Brian Bone, enthused over the merits of their computerised stores record system. A terminal at the Preston main stores is linked to a powerful computer at Doncaster.

The computer package used, said Mr Bone, was proven over a five-year period by International Harvester in its parts distribution set-up. Slight modifications were made for use in Britain and the system became live on December 11976.

The new system has transformed the "demand historyfor spares, and faults in spares distribution are now highlighted. Seddon Atkinson distributors are given more comprehensive information than ever before.

The scale of the Seddon Atkinson spares distribution set-up is apparent from the 58,000 "line items" many of which relate to older Atkinson and Seddon vehicles. The company has a commitment to provide spares for vehicles up to 10 years' old.

The aim is to rationalise vehicle designs so that line items amount to no more than 25,000, with simplified organisation and better service. Interchangeable items

doors and cab parts—on the Series 200, derived from the Series 400, are appre

ciated by many operators with a long loyalty to the marque.

Mr Palliser noted that when type testing of vehicles is accepted the implication is that all parts on the vehicle are to specification. Operators will have to guard against the risk of buying spurious parts made to inferior design and material specifications.

The range of publications available from Seddon Atkinson to help operators is impressive, The Parts and Service Directory shows by means of a numbered map where to apply for spares or help on the road. The opening times of the distributors are shown together with names of responsible executives.

The Publications Price List shows the many manuals and booklets available to fitters and drivers, and contains bound-in order forms. All such technical literature must be ordered through the Seddon Atkinson Distributor network and not from the Parts Distribution Centre at Club 1Street, Bamber Bridge, Preston.

Regional conferences for the parts managers of distributors enable both sides to discuss medium and longterm problems. The distributors are encouraged to sell parts to operators with the energy displayed by many parts factors. Though such a service is designed to help Seddon Atkinson users common items such as David Brown and Fuller gearboxes, Perkins and Cummins engines, Eaton axle spares etc, could be handled as a spinoff.

Each distributor has a list of Parts Manuals which show each part of an assembly and therefore help with the ordering of spares. Drivers of distributors' sales vans carry identification manuals and containing a description as well as a part number. When orders marked VOR are received at Bamber Bridge spe

cial efforts are made to ensure that the operator has ordered the correct part or assembly.

Orders received before 11 am are normally dispatched by express transport—as specified by the operator/ distributor the same day. The bulk of urgent spares in the UK are delivered within 48 hours.

The close inter-action between service and spares facilities and management at Seddon Atkinson came through clearly when I talked to service manager Mike Fairbrother. In the past three years the company has concentrated on developing a more professional approach by distributors.

"In the past, manufacturers had tended to tell the distributor about the product and leave it at that. "Today we go further—we show them how to read a parts book speedily and accurately, explain warranty procedures, etc," he said.

"Salesmen for distributors are taught about vehicle performance so that operators may learn whether a singlespeed or two-speed axle will better meet their needs. This is helpful to operators using a 16-ton vehicle for the first time."

A new operator of a Seddon Atkinson 200 is given a driver's handbook, the parts and service directory, a list of publications, a parts book for the product he has bought, and a warranty card. Operators can buy a workshop manual and subscribe to regularly updated Service Information notes.

Driver training can be arranged. Large fleet operators often take the opportunity to see films; one is available on the 400 Series, the other describes the operation of Eaton gearboxes.

Seddon Atkinson likes to meet operators in the field, though one-day courses are also arranged at the works. An HQ staff of three engineers works with six field service engineers. Field visits are arranged through distributors.

I hope more operators will take advantage of the facilities and improve the profitable use of Seddon Atkinson vehicles.

The use of the computer to analyse demand for spares enables a "top twenty" analysis of parts failures to be made—some may relate to outside suppliers. The top five complaints are referred to a production committee.

No Seddon Atkinson operator need doubt that the company responds quickly to faults arising in service. That's how the breed is im

proved. •John Darker


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