More than 52 000 parts are housed in the new Volvo Group RDC
The Volvo Group opened its new Regional Distribution Centre (RDC) in Boksburg last month. The new upgraded facility, which now incorporates the parts warehousing and logistical services for the various Volvo Group brands operating in southern Africa, was established at an investment value of approximately R60 million.
More than 52 000 parts are housed in the new RDC. The centre holds stock items for Volvo Bus, Volvo Construction Equipment, Volvo Trucks, Volvo Penta, Renault Trucks and UD Trucks.
“As the Volvo Group SA, we believe that the merger of our warehouse facilities under one roof will enable us to better support the company’s future growth within southern and East Africa”
The size of the main warehouse was increased to 11 500m². An additional 1 500m² storage capacity has also been added for cabs, as well as for hazardous materials such as coolants.
“As the Volvo Group SA, we believe that the merger of our warehouse facilities under one roof will enable us to better support the company’s future growth within southern and East Africa,” says Torbjörn Christensson, President of the Volvo Group SA.
“Increased uptime for our customers is one of our core objectives within the Group,”
“It is therefore a strategic investment in our future and will enable us to support our customers more efficiently and timely, especially in light of the significant volume growth our brands have experienced over the last number of years.
“Increased uptime for our customers is one of our core objectives within the Group,” explains Christensson. “Customers are rightly demanding exceptional parts availability – something we believe we will be able to achieve with the new facility, its innovative systems and skilled workforce.”
Parts are supplied to the Johannesburg RDC from the various brands’ (CDC) Renault Trucks, UD Trucks, Volvo Construction Equipment, Volvo Bus, Volvo Penta and Volvo Trucks
Christer Svärd, Senior Vice President of Volvo Group Logistics Services, comments: “The aim of Volvo Group Logistics Services, under which the responsibility for the designing, managing and optimising of logistics services resides, is to deliver services with operational excellence, in an efficient and sustainable way, thereby reducing costs, disruption and environmental impact.”
Parts are supplied to the Johannesburg RDC from the various brands’ Central Parts Distribution Centers (CDC) in France (Renault Trucks), Japan and Singapore (UD), Sweden and Belgium (Volvo Construction Equipment, Volvo Bus, Volvo Penta and Volvo Trucks).
According to Colin Govender, General Manager, Logistics Services, for the southern and East African region, local operations have refined their processes to ensure on-time local delivery for all brands. “We have agreements in place for the prompt processing of emergency parts, as well as for day and stock orders.
Agreements are also in place with transport providers for the forwarding and clearing of daily air and weekly sea shipments – ensuring a continuous flow of regular maintenance, as well as critical parts to dealers and, ultimately, to customers,” says Govender.
“Ultimately, this means one defined process, one way of developing the competencies of our staff, and creating more opportunity to have multi-skilled people that can support the operation in different areas as needed.”
The Volvo Group RDC has a sameday delivery policy to dealers within 50km of the facility, and a 24/7 set-up in place for emergency parts. Overnight and next day deliveries are in place for the remainder of the dealers across South Africa, as well as up to twice-weekly dedicated deliveries to export dealers outside the country.
“The integrated warehouse boasts one system that effectively covers all the brands supported from South Africa,” says Govender.
“Ultimately, this means one defined process, one way of developing the competencies of our staff, and creating more opportunity to have multi-skilled people that can support the operation in different areas as needed.”
