Spare Parts (Warehouse) Department Overview

Due to the continued demand for spares and accessories, our warehouse operations have had to increase its operating and holding capacity 4-fold. The warehouse now operates from 4 locations in Gibraltar, which at times can be a logistical challenge due to the continuous roads works and traffic volume. However, with good foresight and planning all these obstacles are normally overcome without too much hindrance to daily operations.

Manning
The warehouse crew is comprised of 8 members, led by Manager John Ferrary, ably assisted by supervisor Steven Link and 6 warehouse technicians, Martin Bates, Eric Aburdarham, Francis Valverde, Roy Collado, Christian Rocca and last, but by no means least, Jade Madeira.

Functions of the Department
The warehouse’s main functions are:

To provide world-class service to customers in respect of their part and accessory requirements

To be committed to provide the highest levels of support to the TGS Sales and Workshop teams.

The duties of the warehouse
The warehouse team work under a strict monthly Rota system, however, everyone is purposely trained in all aspects of our work in order to take over any task should the need arise.

Goods-in
This section is probably the most complex and requires the most concentration as on average we handle 2 containers, 1 weekly Toyota truck from Belgium, together with numerous deliveries via airfreight, sea freight and couriers on a daily basis. All goods received have to checked, bar-coded and stored once they have been reconciled with the relevant documentation.

Picking/packing
This section is solely dedicated to the “picking and packing” of spare parts and vehicle options to be fitted and/or loaded on the customers’ vehicles. Once again, pickers are required to use our bar-coding units to scan all items, thus avoiding any possible errors by picking the wrong parts.

Packer
Here a member of the team is tasked with all client orders, these are to be picked and packed using the same method as the pickers. However, due to the varied sizes of parts, the packer must ensure he uses the most appropriate packing method both to minimize transport costs and to ensure the safe transportation of goods to their final destinations.

Warehouse maintenance
These tasks are varied to say the least, any member tasked with these duties can find themselves loading vehicles, offloading containers, stocking up the main warehouse, doubling up to assist other sections when work loads requires this, etc.

Kaizen (continual development)
After attending various Kaizen Marathons in Brussels, the warehouse was the first department within TGS to create a position specifically designed to accommodate the Kaizen philosophy. Currently a warehouse team member is specifically tasked with all kaizen activities and is supported by other members of the team in order to improve operating and storing methods, as well as helping to make the warehouse a far more efficient department. All warehouse members are encouraged to voice their ideas and suggestions with the aim of improving the working environment.