Mark in Action Winners' Stories: JLR Japan
Our Mark in Action awards are a testament to the individuals and teams who embody The Unipart Way, in the way they think, work and behave to deliver value for our customers.
Two Unipart colleagues from Japan were recently awarded a Mark in Action for their dedicated approach to help achieve a flawless ‘go live’ for JLR and demonstrate that Unipart is truly a trusted supply chain partner in the region.
Unipart has worked with JLR in Japan for over 20 years, signing a five year contract renewal in December 2023.
Unipart was already managing the Jaguar aftermarket parts operation at the state of the art parts warehouse in Narita when JLR asked Unipart to take on the management of the Land Rover operation, operated from the same site by a different incumbent.
How did the winners solve a problem for the customer?
The existing 3PL lacked the system knowledge to adequately manage the daily operations, and as such, an enormous amount of outstanding transactions had built up over previous years, leading to a number of supply chain issues for Land Rover retailers in the region.
Aware of the importance of achieving a smooth handover for the customer, Logistics Manager Yoshiaki Shimada proactively helped train the team leader from the previous supplier to complete the outstanding transactions before the cut over date, to ensure a clean handover to Unipart.
Location Controller Yuriko Hayakawa was the main point of contact for the previous incumbent to support the system processes in order to avoid the repetition of incorrect transactions, helped coordinate the stock count processes and prepared all of the required system tools and documents prior to the project go live.
She successfully established a simple, standardised process that is easy to understand for all colleagues, even if they are not familiar with the warehouse layout and system, to ensure the continued smooth running of the operation.
How did the winners go above and beyond?
Together, the winners contributed over 350 hours over a six month transition period to the project. They worked closely with JLR Japan and the previous incumbent supplier to ensure every detail of the transition and operational handover was executed perfectly, in addition to their day to day roles.
The dedication of both colleagues ensured a seamless go live for the Land Rover business for Unipart, with no delays to outbound orders.
Nominator Ryuichiro Nishikawa, Territory Director Japan & Asia Pac Finance Director, said,
“JLR Japan retailers demand close to perfection from automotive supply chains and anything less than a seamless and ultimately ‘ unnoticed ‘ cut over by Unipart would have quickly become a sizable problem. Shimada-san and Hayakawa-san's actions ensured that Unipart got off to the best possible start in our expanded relationship with JLR.
“Unipart is now JLR’s sole aftermarket logistics provider in Japan. The customer put their trust in our expertise to manage the transition of a complex operation and ensure its smooth running for the future, demonstrating the partnership approach we operate.
“I’d like to give my huge thanks to Shimada-san and Hayakawa-san for their dedication, hard work and expertise. The success of this project was a fantastic demonstration of our ability to solve problems for our customers and support their supply chain, and we hope to continue for years to come.”
Know someone who deserves a Mark in Action?
The Next Mark in Action ceremony will take place on Wednesday 28th May, 2025. If there is an individual or group in your team who you think deserves recognition then please send in your nomination by using the form here.
If you aren't sure whether your story is a Mark in Action or not, just contact Katie Geddes Mark in Action Manager, who is happy to advise and support you through the process.
You can find out more about Mark in Action awards here.
0 comments have been posted.