Suzuki introduces revolutionary aftermarket component tracking system

Suzuki GB has introduced a new paperless closed-loop track and trace system for the distribution and management of aftermarket parts from the company’s £16 million state-of-the-art headquarters in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire. Suzuki works in partnership with global supply chain management specialist, CEVA Logistics. The system implementation is the result of a 16-month joint development programme.

By extending the current barcode and wireless scanner-based system used to track the movement of assets parts at its premises, Suzuki will now be able to trace any of the 8,000 units of stock ranging from a single nut or bolt to an engine or chassis, roll cage, mailbag, tote box and loose items which leave its purpose-built 9,000m2 aftersales facility every day, to when it arrives at any of the country’s 450 franchise dealers. Users will equally have the facility to track components sent to Suzuki GB’s premises which houses a total of 94,000 lines of stock.

A dedicated web-based portal will provide real-time and live data showing the location of all assets in transit. Furthermore, parts returned by dealers in their original condition will trigger payment automatically on arrival back at Suzuki GB’s premises, significantly reducing transaction times for the issue of credits. This will also mean an increase in first time pick ratios as parts are made more readily available for re-distribution.

Commenting on the introduction of the new track and trace system, Andy Franks, Operations Manager of the Parts and Accessories Division, Suzuki GB explains: “We are always looking for ways to enhance our efficiency and productivity, and after the successful implementation of our parts management system internally which has significantly increased our work rate, it seemed a logical step to extend this process beyond our aftermarket facility to be able to manage the distribution of cages within the dealer network more effectively.”

The new track and trace system was implemented in September, and whilst the UK was the first territory to implement the new programme, Suzuki is already looking at the feasibility of rolling out the system at Suzuki’s other parts distribution centres across the globe.