Powering the Big Guns – Sourcing Komatsu Parts in the UK
Komatsu reckon they’ve got more parts running mining, construction and military kit than pretty much anyone else in the world. They’re probably right, too. Unlike other major heavy plant brands, which tend to make whole machines or nothing, Komatsu make both full machines and power sources. Engines, in other words. They also make some of the best respected mining, moving and building machinery in the world. Sourcing Komatsu parts from a reputable supplier is vital to the success and stability of UK heavy industries: with an equally impressive range of warehousing and light vehicles under the brand, it’s also vital for the continued running of normal “pick and pack” style businesses. One would imagine that sourcing branded parts for such excellent machines would be the only way to go. An understandable idea, but basically a wrong one. Seeking out branded parts can actually work out to be prohibitively expensive and time-consuming, simply because they have to be shipped from staple stockists. A company that stocks and delivers Komatsu parts to the UK, for example, may well be in France or Germany – no use if the part in question is needed today, and not really ideal for the kind of loyalty and bulk discounts business customers rely on from their suppliers. It’s better to source the parts from a company in the UK, with whom one can develop a working supply relationship. Because Komatsu is such a hugely respected brand, and because such a lot of its machinery is used daily by UK business, a whole industry has sprung up around the creation and supply of parts that fit the engines but aren’t built by Komatsu. These alternative bits work just as well as Komatsu parts – but they’re easier to find, often cheaper and certainly sourced within the UK. Indeed, in some ways they may even be mechanically better than Komatsu genuine, for the simple reason that the companies producing them (like UK brand KMP, for example) have made a niche market out of their production. In other words, the companies who are making Komatsu parts for the UK trade make only Komatsu engine parts, whereas Komatsu have to build whole machines. The UK parts companies excel at what they do because that’s all they do. The distribution advantages of sourcing Komatsu parts directly in the UK are obvious. Stuff comes same day when needed, commonly replaced bits can be held on a minimum stock threshold basis (whereby the distributor of the part simply keeps a company stocked to a required minimum level with the piece in question), and regular use discounts apply. Discounts are traditionally a big reason for any company to stick with a particular supplier. In the wake of the recession, there’s another financial reason why taking UK companies’ Komatsu parts is advisable. Exchange rates are utterly unreliable these days, which means that developing supply relationships with overseas companies can be dangerous or even fatal. Keeping part supply within the UK protects against any nasty currency fluctuation surprises. And that means keeping on working – like the engines the parts are for.
About the Author
Komatsu parts for the UK trade make only Komatsu engine parts, whereas Komatsu have to build whole machines. The UK parts companies excel at what they do because that’s all they do.
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