The parts and accessories facility is shared by Alliance members Renault Australia, Nissan Motor Company Australia and Mitsubishi Motors Australia (MMAL), and helps to optimise productivity, efficiency and accuracy in order fulfilment for their dealer networks.
As such, it has become the new master warehouse for the national distribution network of the three companies, which are responsible for the Renault, Alpine, Nissan, Infiniti and Mitsubishi automotive brands in Australia.
Strategically located in Truganina, 30 minutes west of Melbourne, the purpose-built facility is situated between Melbourne’s sea container terminal and international airport with direct access to all interstate roads.
More than 37,000 square-metres in size, the warehouse is managed by Dutch company CEVA Logistics, which counts it among others in Truganina as the largest logistics operation in the southern hemisphere.
The facility can house more than 90,000 parts and accessories at any time and manages 11 inbound sea containers daily alongside airfreight and other local shipments. It has capacity for about 100,000 units.
Specifically, about 2500 parts are brought in each day, while eight B-double transporters directly deliver 8500 parts to Alliance member dealerships as part of a same-day service.
In order to facilitate this, the warehouse remains open 24 hours a day while parts and accessories are transported across the whole of Australia.
Employing more than 90 staff, the facility features a 677 square-metre wet room with space for 700 pallets.
It is also one of the first six-star Green Star-built and -accredited buildings in Australia, thanks to the inclusion of a roof-mounted solar system that provides renewable energy, high-bay LED lighting with daylight and motion sensors, early-suppression fast-response sprinkler systems, and a rain-water system for bathroom and garden irrigation.
Furthermore, the warehouse uses industry-leading technologies and processes to ensure fast and efficient movement of the parts and accessories, including a dedicated area for the storage of hazardous liquids like oils, and transmission and brake fluids; and 10-container docks that accommodate high-volume inbound and outbound shipments.
In Truganina for the official opening, Alliance senior vice-president of aftersales Kent O’Hara stressed the global significance of the first Alliance National Distribution Centre.
“Today’s grand opening is a significant milestone for the Alliance,” he said. “This shared facility is another example of how the Alliance continues to generate synergies to the benefit of our companies, customers and shareholders at a global level.
“It represents a major first step, because this is the first operation in the world – (with) the Alliance now representing the three companies – that we have three of the brands in a single operation.
“It’s quite a significant operation. Being able to do this is great, because it will lead the way for many more of these types of operations on a global basis.”
Of the 104 parts and accessories global facilities that fall under the Alliance’s jurisdiction, this is the first to service all three members, with more shared warehouses planned for locations in Japan and Europe in the coming years.
By Justin Hilliard
