Truck Parts and Service | Heavy Duty Trucking, Aftermarket, Service Info
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/510247
18 accessories, tools and counter impulse items are some of CV Logistics' top- selling products. "We try to get our members to look outside the box and look at different types of products that they can sell and provide to their customer base," adds Shumaker. The warehouse has been a welcome resource for Dan Bond, president at A-1 Truck Parts. "I'm very limited in the space I have in my location's warehouse," Bond says. "[CV Logistics] helps me and allows me to not be out of those popular numbers. "I'll sometimes make the same order three or four times a week and within 24 hours the shipment is coming back to me." And the fl exibility master warehouses offer distributors in trying new product lines isn't limited to chrome accessories and wiper blades. Distributors also can use master warehouses to run trials of hard parts as well. FleetPride says its corporate method for adding new products lines is to stock small quantities in its distribution cen- ters while its locations market the new component, and then add units at the retail and warehouse locations as sales begin to rise. This ensures the point-of-contact loca- tions aren't forced to take on more than they can sell, or stock, and allows the com- pany to have a healthy product reserve if the product is an immediate hit. That latter point is incredibly impor- tant, because Bond says free space in the average independent distributor location is limited. Don Devany says Betts Truck Parts builds inventory at each of its locations based on the sales and customer makeup at each store. Major product lines and categories are available at each facility, he says, but volume is not always the same. The same is true at FleetPride. The company says it is establishing core product assortments at all of its locations, but the availability of specialty, rare or legacy parts varies at each facility. This ensures each location can meet the different needs of local, regional and national customers, the company says. Distribution centers also give stores a safety valve when an inventory becomes askew. Don Devany cites Betts' policy al- lowing locations to return product back to its Fresno facility when necessary. And a maximized inventory means maximized sales opportunities. "It really helps keep [store inventory] fresh and keeps our inside and outside counter people aggressive," he says. Cummins has a similar agreement be- tween its master and regional warehouse locations, Sunkel says. "The purpose of our regional facilities is to maximize the availability of parts in close proximity to our customers," he says. "If one of those locations somehow acquires additional inventory we advise them to return it so they can maintain a much healthier mix of products." T R U C K P A R T S & S E R V I C E | M a y 2 0 1 5 Things to consider when designing a master warehouse TriFactor Distribution Solutions has produced a white paper offering tips for designing and building a parts distribution center. The company offers three keys to success: Expansive Storage Medium: Ensure your facility has the space to store not only high-moving products, but also slower-paced items you may only turn a few times a year. Effi cient Order Picking: Group SKUs and product categories together to allow effi cient order picking. Train employees on the best methods to move through the location. Scalability and Flexibility: Save open space for product expansion. A master warehouse can fi ll up just as fast as a retail facility if it is designed without considering future business growth. Cummins has facilities in Memphis (above) and Fort Walton, Ky., that distribute all of the company's engine and fi ltration products. I'm very limited in the space I have in my location's warehouse. [CV Logistics] helps me and allows me to not be out of those popular numbers. – Dan Bond, president at A-1 Truck Parts Cover Story