Loading...A tractor has to run – especially at harvest time – and farmers all over Europe expect this from their machines. But breakdowns and wear and tear happens, and this is when farmers look to their dealers to quickly get them back up and running.
John Deere offers solutions like its Expert Alert to detect failures before they occur, however, even proactive repair doesn’t mean much without the right spare parts being available. To ensure farmers aren’t left wanting, the 650 members of staff at the EPDC work day in, day out to ensure that spare parts always arrive where they are needed – and as quickly as possible.
New parts incoming
At the centre’s incoming goods department, staff at 14 docks receive parts from external suppliers and John Deere plants from all over the world. The parts are registered, repackaged in several steps, and then made ready for storage. Around 94% of all goods are stored on the same day of arrival. When particularly urgent parts arrive, they are sent directly to dispatch without going through the warehouse, speeding up the process to get the parts to where they need to be.
Can you guess…
On average, how many lorries arrive at the incoming goods department each day?
- 20 lorries per day
- 30 lorries per day
- 45 lorries per day
Answer:
Around 45 lorries arrive at the incoming goods department every day, with 75% coming from within Germany and 25% as imported deliveries.
Space-saving storage
Most parts are stored in the high-bay pallet warehouse; an automated process involving a loading robot that accepts the parts and sorts them into available compartments. The warehouse is almost completely dark as the robot does not need any light to find its way around. The height of the EPDC building allows for the storage of many parts in a compact area.
Can you guess…
How many different types of parts are stored in the EPDC
- 150.000 part types
- 270.000 part types
- 350.000 part types
Answer:
At the EPDC, about 350,000 different types of parts are stored. John Deere ensures that spare parts are available for at least 15 years after a series has been discontinued.
Rapid pace
The so-called high-frequency zone A0 is the most active zone in the EPDC. In this area, staff pick 60% of all goods dispatched from the site. It is where smaller parts are stored, and where staff pick and assemble them for each order. To do this, they run through the main aisle with an electric trolley and collect the parts they need from the side aisles. A ‘purchasing list’ has all the items in the correct order of their storage locations.
Can you guess…
How quickly staff can pick parts for a ‘machine-down’ order and get them ready for dispatch?
- Within 45 minutes
- Within 60 minutes
- Within 120 minutes
Answer:
It can take as little as 45 minutes to have parts for a ‘machine-down’ order picked and ready for dispatch.
Ready for take-off
When parts are shipped by air freight, every minute counts. That is why the EPDC has its own security area for packing air freight. Only specially trained staff who have been checked by the German Federal Aviation Authority are authorised to work in this area. Operating a security area means parts are not required to be scrutinised at the airport, and therefore make it onto the plane and to the retailer more quickly.
Can you guess…
How much faster the security area makes the air freight process?
- Half a day
- A day
- Two days
Answer:
The air freight security area makes the process at least one day faster.
On-route to the dealer
EPDC staff currently load fully assembled shipments at 17 docks; 360 vehicles leave the centre every week, including 140 lorries, 200 transport vans, and 25 containers. To accommodate the strong growth of the EPDC, John Deere is currently expanding the capacity of the dispatch area by 11 additional docks. This will give staff more space and capacity to send out goods to customers even faster.
Can you guess…
What proportion of all EPDC shipments go to countries within the EU?
- 70 %
- 80 %
- 90 %
Answer:
80 % of all shipments go to countries within the European Union. The remaining 20 % is sent to countries outside.