Modern Manufacturers Often Use Robots For Repetitive Tasks
The Case For Using "Approved" Products
From
The Largest Independent Manufacturer Distributor
Of Non-Original Car Body Panels In The United Kingdom.
INTRODUCTION
LMC Hadrian Ltd. & Hadrian Car Panels Ltd. form
between them, the largest Manufacturer / Distributor of Non Original bodypanels
in the U.K.
HADRIAN aims to supply bodyshops via stockists with
quality replacement panels that have the appropriate guarantees for use in
non Original Equipment Manufacturers (non-OEM) tied insurance repair work
and rust repair work.
It is accepted that the use of non-OEM replacement
panels in accident repair work, produces savings of more than 20% on OEM
materials. The potential savings to the motor vehicle insurance industry
as a whole, are vast.
The question that arises at once is, are the replacements
adequate for the task. Hadrian are fully confident that the quality replacement
panels supplied by us are entirely suitable for both corrosion repair and
insurance work and that their use is in no way likely to give rise to increased
costs either directly or at any subsequent stage.
2) POLICY
HADRIAN believes that the five most important factors
necessary to meet the demands of the market within the replacement panel
industry are:-
* Service
* Quality
* Competitive pricing
* Availability
* A rapidly expanding range
Hadrian consistently provide all five
3) THE COMPANY
HADRIAN, formed in Northumberland, 27 years ago filled
a sizeable gap in the market, but it was not until the acquisition of LMC
(Wiltshire) that we became national as opposed to regional.
HADRIAN now operates from two sites. Our factory and
a large warehouse are based at Westbury, Wiltshire and our other warehousing
facility is near Hexham, Northumberland. This arrangement has enabled Hadrian
to establish a comprehensive distribution network covering the entire U.K.
mainland and Northern Ireland. This allows us to meet the demands of the
market both in the U.K. and as exporters.
The majority of Hadrian's U.K.customers receive daily
delivery.
4) THE PRODUCTS AND THEIR QUALITY
The current HADRIAN range comprises in excess of 8000
parts and covers over 450 different vehicle models. Quality standards are
consistently high.
a) THE ACCEPTANCE OF NEW PANELS
No new panel,(and this includes both imported panels
and our own manufactured items), is introduced to the product range without
extensive prior testing. An equivalent OEM panel, or data where applicable
is always obtained to enable a direct comparison.
Random picking and technical checks are also made as
part of our continuous quality control programme. The frequency with which
any particular design of a panel is checked will vary according to the quality
of the panels produced and being sold. Panels produced from older tools are
monitored more regularly to ensure that pressings are not being affected
by potential wear. If any discrepancy is discovered then full checking of
remaining stocks is always undertaken.
5) PRODUCTS AND THEIR SOURCES.
Panels are obtained from a number of different
sources.
a) OWN MANUFACTURED PANELS
HADRIAN has its own production facility at
Westbury.
I. All Steel used at Westbury is UK sourced and conforms
to BSI 1449.
b) IMPORTED PANELS
Hadrian also imports panels from well-established
manufacturers in Spain, Portugal, Northern Italy and Denmark. Approximately
6% of our purchases come from within South East Asia.
Most of the "Quality Driven" manufacturers are based
in traditional areas of motor manufacture and make parts for OEMs.
Many of our imported panels are actually made by the
same manufacturers that supply the original parts and consequently there
tend to be very few problems with quality or fit.
6) PRODUCT SUPPORT
There is no point in supplying an automotive body repairer
with a cheaper panel if the extra labour and materials required to make the
panel fit properly, or to achieve a satisfactory paint finish, ultimately
cost the bodyshop more than the saving made on the panel's initial purchase.
In the unlikely event that an unsatisfactory panel
is supplied, it is critical that a repairer loses as little time as possible
in effecting a repair and we offer product support as follows.
I. A "no quibble" replacement guarantee, so that any
dispute regarding the suitability or condition of any panel may be resolved
after an acceptable replacement has been supplied.
II. A large stock holding to ensure that a replacement
is almost always available immediately.
Ill. A rapid and efficient delivery service to the
motor factors that we supply to ensure that the replacement reaches the repairer
with the minimum of delay.
7) PRODUCT INFORMATION & THE HADRIAN
CATALOGUE
With a range of replacement panels as vast as Hadrians,
it is essential that the customers are able to identify parts required quickly,
easily and reliably. To this end we have produced a fully illustrated catalogue
that is widely recognised as being the most detailed and comprehensive reference
guide currently available.
The popular mass selling Haynes DIY restoration and
repair manuals have incorporated illustrations reproduced under licence from
the HADRIAN catalogue - further independent
evidence of the high opinion within the trade of the quality of the drawings.
Our trained staff are very familiar with the extensive
detail contained within the catalogue illustrations and are available to
provide customers with advice.
About 40 of the parts shown in the catalogue are clearly
coded "econ" and are primarily for vehicles over 12 years old. These panels
are not of our own manufacture but will be adequate for most third party
repairs when choice is limited.
They are not covered by our six-year anti-corrosion
warranty.
Information technology is an important issue and Hadrian
has spent time producing a CD-ROM of the illustrated catalogue mentioned
above.
Send
mail to
bram@carpanels.com with questions
or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 1998 Hadrian
Last modified: 07/12/00
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