A contingency framework for the after-sales inventory at Nissan's part distribution centre

Abstract

Nissan South Africa currently has a manufacturing plant in Rosslyn, north of Pretoria. This plant houses Nissans only after-sales warehouse in Southern Africa. After-sales parts are sourced through various pipelines to the warehouse and inventory levels are monitored. These parts are distributed to all the dealerships through out South Africa and its borders. Currently there is no contingency framework in the event of a stock – loss. This project seeks to provide a contingency plan (framework) for the inventory in the unlikely event of an emergency.

Through information gathering, in the form of a literature study, and an analysis of the environment, a suitable methodology was devised to build the contingency plan. Tools and techniques that are applicable to the methods are discussed. The methodology of the plan is illustrated by means of a pilot study. In light of this, the concept of a Decision Support System (DSS) is discussed and its use illustrated by means of the pilot study. The DSS of the pilot study is done on a selected portion of data, generic enough in fashion to be expanded and adjusted for the complete database in the event of a disaster.