BUILD April 2017

BUILD / April 2017 43 , Branded replacement parts manufacturers are increasingly “acting” like OEMs in approach to quality control, utilization of sophisticatedmeasurement systems and adoption of lean manufacturing techniques to produce consistent, high-quality parts Blurring the Lines Between OEM and Aftermarket Parts Over the past 60 years, the acceptance of replacement parts suppliers for engines used in the heavy-duty construction industry has evolved significantly. Today, the quality, availability, coverage and warranty of products from branded aftermarket suppliers are increasingly rivaling those of their OEM counterparts. This trend, largely motivated by the goal of producing consistent and high quality parts, and thus eliminating the one “knock” on aftermarket parts, is the result of the increasingly blurred line between OEM and branded aftermarket supplier. Expediting Equipment Repairs Republic Diesel sources engine parts for Caterpillar, Detroit Diesel and Cummins engines from an array of trusted aftermarket brands. The company has been serving the diesel engine market with machining services since the industry’s inception. Services typically involve disassembling engines that have been removed from heavy-duty equipment used by customers in the construction, mining and natural gas industries. In addition to typical machine shop services, such as resurfacing cylinder heads or welding and refinishing crankshafts, Republic Diesel also notifies customers about which engine parts should be replaced. In most cases, the customers purchase those parts from the machine shop and install them when the engine is returned. “Most of our customers in the construction market use Caterpillar equipment,” says Hal Hamilton, an inside rep for Republic Diesel. “When those engines require replacement parts, we normally recommend parts or kits manufactured by Industrial Parts Depot (IPD), which covers a lot of different engine models, and has a lot of inventory stocked at distribution warehouses.” IPD, headquartered in Torrance, CA, manufactures and distributes a broad range of replacement parts for Caterpillar, Cummins, Detroit Diesel, Volvo and Waukesha engines. Products include such popular items as pistons, cylinder liners, valvetrain, engine bearings, and gaskets. Hamilton says the sale of engine parts has become a significant source of added business for his company. “With today’s challenging economy, many of our customers don’t carry spare parts or engines, so our machining and parts supply services are vital to them getting up and running as soon as possible.” It is also vital that service shops such as Republic Diesel retain its customers’ trust and confidence. Hamilton says that sourcing engine parts from suppliers such as IPD helps to meet that need, mainly because of the consistent quality and ready availability of products. The company has completely redesigned its steel piston and cylinder liner production processes, incorporating lean manufacturing concepts and new production methods that ensure consistent quality, speed production throughput, and cost savings. They also incorporate in-process quality control with custom- designed “universal gaging stations” at each operation in its steel piston production line, requiring all features be checked 100% within machining cycle time without affecting productivity. This trend of branded aftermarket suppliers pushing the boundaries to ensure they have comparable product is sure to continue. For more info, contact IPD, 23231 Normandie Ave., Torrance, CA 90501; Phone (310) 530-1900, Fax (310) 530-2706, e-mail [email protected] or visit the web site www.ipdparts.com K For More PR Information Contact: Carlo Chatman, Power PR Phone (310) 787-1940 Fax (310) 787-1970 E-mail: [email protected]