Spare Part Logistics Systems in West German Industries: An Empirical Analysis

Abstract

One of the significant features of modern economies is the extensive use of technical equipment throughout production and consumption. Defects and malfunctioning of technical products result in various extra costs in terms of interrupted production as well as lost utility and additional expenses in private households. These consequences of product failures are amplified by the interdependencies within our economic system. Following an initiative by the Federal Association of Logistics Germany (Bundesvereinigung Logistik e.V.) an investigation of spare part logistics systems (SPLSs) in a number of West German industries was just completed. The research concentrated particularly on car, truck, and farming vehicle manufacturing, household appliances, audio and television equipment, and machinery. Our attention was focused on the structure and the functioning of SPLSs, in particular, whether to make or to buy a SPLS, which efficiency standards are employed and what kind of reorganisation had taken place during recent years.

Citation

Ihde, G.B. and Merkel, H.H. (1982), "Spare Part Logistics Systems in West German Industries: An Empirical Analysis", International Journal of Physical Distribution & Materials Management, Vol. 12 No. 1, pp. 5-11. https://doi.org/10.1108/eb014523