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BEDFORD
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The main car and truck parts centre is a massive complex at Dunstable. A two-tier system of dealers and main dealers is being operated at the moment, but this is being changed to a single-tier system by 1977.
Dealers are entitled to a monthly stock order with an additional midmonth supplementary order if required.
"Top priority" orders can be telexed, phoned direct if there is an identification problem, or phoned to a frequently emptied answering machine. The night-shift process all VOR orders by computer, and if in stock these are despatched the following morning.
There is the usual system, used by all manufacturers, of retaining a proportion of stock specifically for emergency call-off only. The parts operation also has priority over production so that the track can In special circumstances, and by prior arrangement only, an operator can call and collect from Dunstable. This is not a practice that is encouraged, however, and Vauxhall needs to be sure that the vehicle concerned is really off the road.
BERLIET
Stocks of parts are already held by Berliet at London's Park Royal although a dealer network is not yet operational and vehicles will not be imported into the UK for sale until January.
The Park Royal stock is being held for foreign operators of Berliet hauling goods in and out of the country. When the sale of vehicles gets going any item not available in the UK will be imported from Berliet's own service centres at Dunkirk or Boulogne. Again to help foreign hauliers, parts for vehicles up to 10 years old are being kept at Park Royal.
BRITISH LEYLAND
The central parts operation is now at Chorley, not far from truck and bus headquarters at Leyland.
Normal orders are processed through the dealer network, with stock orders being delivered to dealers once a week.
For VOR orders dealers communicate with Chorley by telex or by a phone answering machine which is emptied every hour. If the order is submitted before 3.30pm then the parts, if in stock will be delivered to the dealer by Securicor by 10am the following morning. The dealer or customer can specify a different means of delivery if required or, by prior arrangement with the dealer, the customer can pick up any urgently wanted spares. Dealers are discouraged from using VOR order system by means of a differential discount structure.
If the parts required are not in stock then a divisional search is instituted, and if this is unsuccessful then BL uses its influence on outside suppliers. There is also the final resort of halting the production line since Central Parts has priority.
About five per cent of stock is retained for VOR requirements. No check is made to determine whether In order is genuine VOR.
COMMER, DODGE
The main parts centre of Chrysler is in Birmingham and there are also eight "facing" depots situated throughout the country which act as a warehouse for their own local areas. Birmingham co-ordinates the depots, with the depot nearest a dealer being the normal source of supply. Using this system Chrysler can have between 93 and 96 per cent of orders to dealers within 48 hours.
Emergency orders are normally dispatched from Birmingham or one of the eight depots by Securicor and should be with the dealer within 24 hours. There is no facility for the dealer dealing direct with Chrysler. If parts are not immediately available then other dealers will be tried and if that is no good then Birmingham will try to obtain spares from line and also pressurize suppliers where applicable. If a component is required from an assembly which is in stock then this will be dismantled. There is a five per cent differential between stock and VOR orders, although this does not apply to bought-out components.
First-time pick for Chrysler spares is about 94 per cent at Birmingham and for Simca about 95 per cent.
DAF
A one-tier dealership system is being used at present with no inter mediate distributorship, link. Dealers have usual stocks order facilities with DAF's -headquarters at Marlow and are encouraged by means of the discount structure to have about 80 per cent on stock and 20 per cent on VOR order.
DAF will have VOR ordered parts delivered to the dealer usually within 24 hours. Any means of transport is used -whichever is the quickest. If the parts are not in stock then the part is ordered by telex to Holland and airfreighted to London's Heathrow Airport. Provided there is no undue delay the parts will be on the dealer's doorstep within 48 hours.
Marlow will not supply direct to operator or let an operator collect. DAF reckons to have about 90 per cent availability for stock orders and about 93 per cent for VOR,
ERF
Operators should order through the dealer network of ERF, there being no provision for taking orders direct from the customer. Although in the past operators could deal direct, this is now discouraged and in fact by surcharges and handling charges it is not in the interests of the dealer to have his customer calling for spares at ERF. Stock orders are delivered to ERF dealers every fortnight, when average parts availability i about 85 per cent. For VOR orders this availability is better than 95 per cent, For VOR orders the company insists on a chassis number but will advise immediately on availability or within the hour if the phone tape message service is used. Spares are dispatched by Red Star, express parcels or Securicor. There is also a shuttle service between the main spares depot at Middlewich and the Sandbach factory for transferring parts from production.
A very few operators still deal direct with ERF, but this is mainly a legacy from the past.
FIAT
Fiat medium and heavy trucks are newcomers to the UK, and the spares for them are supplied to the network of dealers (about 15 at present) from a centre at Warrington. The pattern of demand is being used as a basis for stocking to meet fast-moving requirements.
Both routine and VOR spares requirements are at present handled by the same system orders going via dealers to Warrington. Urgent spares are normally delivered by Securicor within 24 hours, either to the dealer or the operator. To meet non-stock items, vehicles will be cannibalized.
If customers cannot get satisfaction through their dealers they can contact Warrington direct, but the parts will be invoiced via the dealers.
Parts not on stock in the UK can be airfreighted from Holland, France or Italy.
FODEN
Stock orders are delivered every week to Foden distributors from the company's headquarters at Sandbach. For emergency and VOR orders the phone and telex are the most frequent means of communication, as well as an answer phone which is frequently emptied.
Provided the part is in stock and the order is received before 12 noon, the part will be dispatched the same day. The quickest means of transport is used, such as Red Star or Securicor.
The parts department has priority over production and since the two divisions of the company are on the same premises, parts can be located very quickly. As with other manufacturers, there is a discount penalty for VOR parts if these parts have not already been ordered as part of a stock order.
At the moment Fodens will deal direct with customers but by January I, 1976, this system will be phased out, and only customers with an order number from their distributor will be able to pick up spares from Sandbach.
The company has four of its own depots located around the country, and is in frequent telex communication with all its distributors if a particular item is very elusive.
FORD
Ford operates a two-tier system of dealers and distributors. Distributors receive a weekly stock order --with the order being placed with Ford's Daventry parts headquarters six days in advance. Orders for vehicles off the road can be phoned or telexed and, if in stock, these parts will be guaranteed to be delivered within three days. Two days for delivery, however, is more common. All emergency parts are shipped to one of six strategically situated breakdown depots and the parts delivered locally from there.
At Daventry, which is fully computerized, there are correspondents who have the responsibility for chasing spares from manufacturers. Ultimate priority is given to special customers such as fire and ambulance services. The parts operation has priority over production and can, if required, call for the production line to be stopped in order to satisfy an order.
Arrangements with a dealer can be made for a customer to pick up parts himself, but he cannot deal direct because the computer must have a dealer's coded address.
At the moment, six dealers are linked by computer with Ford so that all ordering is carried out automatically; and it is hoped to have all dealers linked in this way by the end of the '70s.