This is the first of two features on supply chain, focusing on the five key logistic services that Unipart Rail employs.

Just in time delivery

At Unipart Rail we understand your production schedules and will deliver materials directly into the project point of use at the optimal time prior to installation, delivering exactly what is needed when it is required. It is responsive to project slippages and offers the flexibility to work with changes in installation schedules. Our just in time service delivers key benefits:

• Reduces inventory
• Maximises product availability
• Improves quality
• Reduces production space requirements
• Increases flexibility
• Increases productivity.

Our specialist team has a deep understanding of project material requirements and, through a close working relationship with customers, its team is able to interpret project needs and manage the entire process through to the timed delivery and off-load at the site of work. This expertise ensures final project success by delivering critical advice on supply chain capacity and material availability.

Project managers work with customers to:

• Identify and agree material priorities
• Highlight capacity constraints
• Identify ‘show stopper’ materials and suggest alternatives
• Deliver data driven reporting for complete control
• Process technical changes as they arise throughout the programme
• Receive, handle and store components.

Off-site storage

Avoiding significant costs with storage facility mobilisation, we specialise in the management of third party logistics in support of rail projects. Material can be received on behalf of the client, stored safely and securely, identified and prepared for feed into the project, utilising existing Unipart infrastructure or through the rapid mobilisation of temporary storage facilities. This is particularly useful for projects where site storage potential is minimal, vehicular access is problematic or where there is a high risk of theft or when damaged can occur. Customers have 24-hour access and 100% visibility of their materials through any web-enabled device.  we have the ability to accept ugly freight i.e. large non-palletised items for safe keeping and storage and the capacity to deliver to an array of rail environment worksites. Off-load can be made trackside, where practical, through utilising the company’s flexible vehicle fleet and PTS trained delivery drivers.

It can offer:

• Technically competent storemen and delivery staff
• Extensive product knowledge
• Warehouse systems and fully auditable processes
• Experience in material handling
• The company can eliminate risk and waste by storing materials safely and securely in the correct manner.

Kitting

Working with customers to build bespoke project installation kits, our specialist ‘Total Component Management’ service provides complete kits for customer projects just in time to meet installation/construction schedules. Its team interprets requirements to identify material kits based upon industry standards and drawings to deliver a complete solution. The company specialises in working with clients to develop kits of component parts, packaged to be immediately ready for installation on delivery to site. Each kit has its own profile built in-line with individual client demands and project activity and are developed to be installation-ready:

• Individual kits shipped to nominated delivery address
• 100% guaranteed on-time delivery
• Clearly labelled and identified externally
• Sealed and protected
• Associated installation components are palletised together and in an installation ready format
• Ancillary components necessary for installation are included
• 100% independent technical audit review and sign off before sealing.

Commissioning spares

We fully understand the need for material availability during commissioning phases and provides a bespoke service in support. A list of commissioning spares is agreed with the client, packaged together and supplied to the relevant site in support of commissioning phases. The commissioning kit is inspected prior to issue, serial number tracked and customers pay only for the materials they use.  This service supports each individual commissioning phase and materials are immediately withdrawn from site once commissioning work is completed. This reduced the need to utilise any proposed maintenance spares or materials held for other projects in support of any potential
commissioning failure.

On-site consumable stores

If you need to have your spares to hand we will provide a full range of client agreed technical consumables at project worksites as consigned stock. An example for signalling would include crimps, connectors, fuses, cable, jointing equipment etc. Materials can be stored in client premises or be delivered in fully racked storage containers which are laid out to support the range of materials required for the life of the project. Material identification is completed by the our team when the stores are mobilised (i.e. product description and catalogue number etc). Containers are supplied with lighting, heating and power point which are perfect for regular use. This maintains a constant temperature suitable for material storage and simply requires a connection to an on-site power source.  As materials are used and data entered into our consumable inventory system, materials will be replenished to the worksite on a weekly basis on agreed delivery days/times. The material put away can be carried out by client on-site personnel or by our team. Stocking lists can be amended throughout the project life to meet the various project phases and most materials supplied are generally consigned on a sale or return basis. At the post-commissioning phase, we will complete a final audit, demobilise and collect the storage container and all inventory for return to us ensuring the client will only be billed for the material actually used.

Read more about supply chain innovations in the next Blog article.

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For more information about the range of services Unipart can offer to help you improve your project delivery per formance, visit www.unipartrail.com/scm