LOGISTICS

Parts and accessories are at the heart of good car manufacturing and the longevity of vehicles. Since founding Toyota Parts Centre Europe (TPCE) in 1992 and following further expansions in 1999 and 2006, Toyota has relied on its Belgium base as a major strategic component of the company in Europe over the past 30 years.

TPCE now represents an expansive complex of 100,000m2, whereas it only occupied 38,000m² when operations started. In 1992, TPCE served 17 destinations. Today, more than 60 million parts and accessories are redistributed via 13 regional depots to more than 2,400 dealers in 44 European countries, or directly delivered. In addition, TPCE is also delivering to other Toyota production regions around the world, including Japan, North America and Asia.

Parts and accessories handled at TPCE vary widely in size and range, from the bumper to the tyre, from the timing belt to the smallest battery component.

100% CUSTOmER SATISFACTION

On average, around 250,000 parts and accessories are received and shipped each day. To support these complex operations, more than 200 trucks enter and leave the centre on a daily basis.

Toyota has a company culture striving towards 100% customer satisfaction. That philosophy is strongly reflected at TPCE through standards such as the in-night-delivery service to all dealers, for a feeling of “zero” lead time. TPCE’s aim is that if a dealer orders a part before 4 pm, it is delivered the next morning. The target service rate is 96.5% which allows dealer stocks to be kept to a minimum. Another service commitment by TPCE is to continue to supply spare parts for a Toyota vehicle for 21 years after the end of production of that model, ensuring customers’ peace of mind.

EmPLOyEE wELL-bEING AT THE CORE OF TPCE ACTIVITIES

In 30 years, TPCE’s workforce has grown from 80 employees in 1992 to over 1,100 people today, making the Diest centre a major employer in the area. With a culture fostering diversity and inclusion, TPCE employs 18 different nationalities. It also works with a non-profit organisation called Blankendale, whose 20 members with disabilities provide exemplary collaboration for the packaging of the TPCE parts. “This year, we are not just celebrating the history of a building, but rather the history of hardworking, dedicated and committed people. Since its establishment, TPCE has grown from 80 employees to over 1,100 and 29 of them that joined the company from the very start are still working here today. Over the years, TPCE has expanded to be able to handle one of the most complex logistics operations at this centre of gravity of Toyota’s parts dis-

tribution business in Europe,“ explained Andy Sinton, Head of Parts Supply Chain at Toyota Motor Europe.

TPCE looks after the well-being of its employees and others by promoting maximum use of quality ergonomic tools like ring scanners and tablets, powered carts and left/right hand adjusted equipment. The height adjustable cart has in fact been designed by one of the warehouse members, building on Toyota’s famous Kaizen method, which nurtures continuous process improvement.

SUSTAINAbILITy AT TPCE

Since 2010, the centre’s roofs have been covered with 80,000m2 of solar panels. Last year, this led to an annual saving of 212 tonnes of CO2. Moreover, with the aim of reducing waste and promoting the circular economy, TPCE is constantly improving its parts packaging processes, for example by implementing a returnable packaging policy while still securing quality throughout the supply chain.