Managing the supply chain of time-critical service parts is challenging for many service organizations. Fortunately, there are services available that can help with these logistics challenges. Some examples are reverse logistics, inventory management, forecasting, and remanufactured parts.
Reverse logistics
Time critical parts delivery is essential for processes and manufacturing. Often, they must be delivered on time to ensure production can continue. On-board courier services ensure that time-critical goods reach their destination safely and securely. Companies can use 3PLs to manage their inventory and shipping needs to keep up with demand. They can also provide a dedicated account manager for customers to help them track and monitor shipments. These managers can also ensure that vital parts arrive at their destination on time. As the number of shipments continues to rise, so makes the demand for these services. Service parts are often deployed in a parts depot near the customer to speed up repair time. Sometimes, an amount may be needed after hours or on weekends and holidays. In such cases, a company needs flexible logistics capabilities for its service parts. Additionally, the need for reverse logistics may be more significant. Because of the time-critical nature of these parts, a company may need to find a way to quickly return the piece to its original location in the event of a repair.
Inventory management
Successful inventory management includes demand planning. This planning determines how much of a particular item to order. It also accounts for how many SKUs a business needs to meet demand. This method uses data to optimize stock levels and combines lean management and Six Sigma practices. They use data to optimize inventory levels for each location and redeploy products when demand shifts are critical to SLA compliance. This approach analyzes historical data to make informed decisions on seasonal requirements and cost-effective replenishment rates. In addition, inventory management providers can use data to determine the most appropriate stocking locations based on historical part usage data. In addition to SLAs, service parts inventory planning must consider upcoming trends in demand. With today’s technology and global supply chains, companies can choose third-party service providers to handle this aspect of their operations.
Forecasting
Statistical models are used to forecast the demand for service parts. However, indicating a high-volume product with intermittent demand is not always feasible. Moreover, many factors influence a product’s availability. Such factors include product reliability, maintainability, and the operating environment. This paper explores the impact of these factors on forecasting spare parts. While service parts logistics is often considered a relatively straightforward process, it is highly complex. It typically accounts for ten to fifteen percent of a company’s overall revenue. While end products generally are commodities with tight margins, service parts are often a differentiator for a company. Some service parts can account for more than half of a company’s profits.
Remanufactured parts
Remanufactured parts can be a cost-effective and eco-friendly alternative to new car parts. By reusing parts, you can save up to 25% on the cost of a new part. This option also conserves precious raw materials. It is also a greener choice than buying new parts, as remanufacturing processes use 80% less energy than new ones. Remanufactured parts are used OEM parts that have undergone a thorough cleaning and replacement process. The process involves stripping down the leg and replacing worn components. The result is a part that’s equivalent to a brand-new piece.
Cost factors
Several factors can affect the cost of time-critical Service Parts Logistics. First, the optimal stocking strategy must satisfy system availability requirements. Second, the optimal stocking strategy should minimize transportation waiting times. Third, the optimal cost is dependent on the availability of spare parts. Finally, service logistics must account for multiple failure modes. These cost factors may not be directly related to the type of spare parts required, but they can affect the overall cost of the service parts logistics. The METRIC model is one of the most common models used in service parts logistics. However, the METRIC model is not the only method to use. Several authors have developed more accurate and precise models that help assess the efficiency of multi-echelon service parts logistics systems.
