KOTA KINABALU: Proton has expanded its spare parts logistics operations in Sabah with the launch of its new regional parts centre (RPC).
Following the launch of a similar facility in Sarawak last year, the latest addition to the company’s spare parts storage and distribution operations is capable of reducing lead for spare parts time by 30%.
The reduced time also takes into account of the increased output capacity from Proton Parts Centre Sdn Bhd (PPCSB) in Peninsular Malaysia as well as parts procured via direct shipment from overseas, meeting the growing demand in Proton’s third highest state for vehicle sales in Malaysia.
Located in the commercial area in Inanam, the new RPC boasts a built-up floor space of approximately 28,000sq ft, which is 2.5 times bigger than its previous location.
It can receive up to six containers of parts on site simultaneously, up from two containers previously, and is currently processing an average of 26 containers per month to fully utilise its capability to store up to three months of stock.
(From left) Proton Parts Centre Sdn Bhd director Sam Zhang, Lim and Proton Edar after sales director Wan Hazran Wan Mustafa at the centre's launch.
With more storage spaces for parts, lead times to deliver to dealerships and customers could be reduced.
Proton Edar sales and aftersales vice-president Edmund Lim said Proton’s previous warehouse facilities in Sabah were overflowing with parts and running inefficiently due to a lack of space and further compounded by growing customer demand.
"The opening of this new facility in Kota Kinabalu will complement its counterpart in Kuching and both will function collectively as parts distribution centres for after sales parts and components for East Malaysia.
"This overall improvement in storage has created a buffer for demand surges and fluctuations, enabling us to increase parts throughput and as of today, we are rapidly addressing the backlog of orders from our dealers and customers in this market," he said.
PPCSB also deployed a new warehouse management system (WMS) at all its locations earlier this year, enabling the daily delivery capacity at the new RPC to jump 66% to 300 lines in July from 180 lines previously, with a maximum capacity of 400 lines slated to be achieved by September.
The added space also allows the allocation of 8,500 bins to store parts, up from 5,000 bins in the previous facilities.
As a result, the stock value is expected to increase 1.5 times to RM9mil by December 2024, up from RM5.8mil a year earlier.
Proton's market share in Sabah has increasing steadily from 10% in 2018 to 25.9% in 2023 and currently stands at 27.4% year-to-date for 2024, fuelled by the popularity of the new X-series models as well as the evergreen Saga.
Last year, sales of Proton vehicles in East Malaysia contributed 15.8% to the company’s total sales volume.
The top three Proton models sold were the Saga with 13,700 units followed by the Persona with 4,264 and the X50 with 2,955 units, respectively.
