By Joel Scanlon
Caterpillar Logistics (Cat Logistics), a fully owned auxiliary of Caterpillar, has proclaimed its intent to build a new Cat parts distribution center at Yatala, Australia, between Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
Caterpillar's new hydraulic excavator facility in Victoria
At its optimum functioning, the center will extend over 500, 000 sq. ft. and will have 150 employees. It is anticipated to be functional in the middle of 2013. The center will be a vital link in the Cat distribution chain and will greatly support the distributors in Australia.
Being in close proximity to important highways, airports and seaports makes this center a perfect location for well-planned logistics operations. It is the seventh new parts distribution center and is a segment of the overall modernization plan and will be an addition to the earlier planned centers at Clayton, Ohio; Waco, Texas; Central California; Spokane, Washington; Dubai, UAE and the recent San Luis Potosi, Mexico. These new centers will add on about four-and-half million square feet to the currently available space for the distribution chain and in addition they will assist in fulfilling the responsibility of the organization of supplying high-quality parts to consumers locally and globally.
The currently functioning centers at Melbourne, Australia; Grimbergen, Belgium and Shanghai, China are also being expanded. All these units are enhancing the existing systems and processes along with Service Parts Management (SPM), an overall solution that substitutes various legacy software setups that assist the Cat parts network.
Source: http://www.caterpillar.com/