05.06.2017

Manitou integrates US parts operations

Manitou is to bring its sub contracted North American parts operation in house, and integrate it fully with its Gehl and Mustang parts operations.

Manitou outsourced its parts warehouse and logistics operations to Pierce Distribution’s location in Belvidere, near Rockford, Illinois in 2000. It is now bringing the 39 employees that work on its parts distribution on boarde, running its own operation alongside the Pierce warehouse in Belvidere.

The company said: “This strategic line of business fits in with the new group organisation which aims to develop its Services and Solutions division.”
The move is part of a strategy to harmonise the operation of its logistics centres in North America and France and “ensure optimum control over its work flows as part of the ongoing improvement in its service quality. The 17,500 square metre Belvidere distribution centre will distribute Gehl and Mustang spare parts worldwide, and Manitou parts in the United States and Canada. The location will hold a total, 70,000 items from 600 suppliers.
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The Manitou North American parts operation is part of the Pierce warehouse complex in Belvidere, Illinois

Spare parts & attachments operations manager Kelly Knoebel said: "As of January 2017, the project team worked to ensure that the transition was completed as planned on June 1. An important issue was to ensure the maintenance of all employees in the warehouse and this goal was achieved! The logistics activity, led by Joshua Moorehead, currently has five supervisors and 33 full-time logistics officers."

Vice president of the Spare Parts Business Unit Wim Vercauteren added: "At our Belvidere centre we have a 96 percent availability rate for spare parts for our three brands - Manitou, Gehl and Mustang. At the moment we have even exceeded this rate, thanks to the involvement of the teams! For an order placed during the day, we have the capacity for next-day delivery to our clients throughout the United States! With this integration, we are giving a strong boost to the worldwide logistical efficiency of the group."