When Parts Can’t Be Late – Logistics Efficiency for Aftermarket Auto Parts
The clock starts ticking for auto parts manufacturers and suppliers the second a specific part is needed. Vehicle owners have little patience when a required part is not readily available, and with good reason. Afterall, a broken delivery van or truck can mean lost wages and disappointed customers, and force individuals to figure out alternate transportation arrangements while their cars are “in the shop.”
Ensuring parts are available and accessible is the job of the auto aftermarket industry. Comprised of thousands of businesses – manufacturers, suppliers, retailers, online sources, repair facilities, dealerships – aftermarket businesses work to keep the estimated 292 million U.S. and 26.3 million Canadian vehicles on the road.
That task though, has gotten increasingly complicated. For one thing, aftermarket SKUs number in the millions and require sophisticated inventory management and distribution processes. Parts for newer “connected” vehicles often include sensors and other types of fragile components that require special handling. And parts increasingly need to cross international borders. In North America, for example, the United States, Mexico, and Canada are highly-dependent on each other for auto parts — parts used for vehicle manufacturing as well as for aftermarket demand.
The key to aftermarket efficiency is a comprehensive, innovative logistics strategy. Businesses need to have confidence that products will arrive on-time, every time.
Our new e-book, “Logistics Efficiency within North America’s Integrated Auto Aftermarket Industry,” takes an in-depth look at current aftermarket trends and offers unique insight about how innovative logistics practices can help ensure success.
The aftermarket industry “works,” because of logistics efficiency. Learn how Purolator can revitalize your aftermarket business with a comprehensive cross-border solution.