Spare part
When replacement parts are called components , replace the faulty or worn components of a more complex product. The 2010 Block Exemption Regulation contains essential provisions.
Spare parts trade
Spare parts can either be manufactured in-house or purchased from specialist suppliers such as B. Electrical parts in vehicles or machines.
Original spare parts are sold by the manufacturer of the product, either by removing them from ongoing production, factoring them into the number from the outset or producing them again in (small) series afterwards. However, there are also companies that manufacture spare parts for devices from other manufacturers. One speaks of the so-called aftermarket . These usually fulfill the same function, but can differ from the original. Spare parts for which the manufacturer can prove that they are exactly identical in construction and function to those of the original manufacturer are also called identity parts. They are identical to the original in every way, but are sold under a different name. The manufacturers usually advertise the use of original spare parts. This allows the manufacturer to specify the quality criteria, and he also benefits from sales. In order to underpin their quality standards, some associations of manufacturer-independent companies, such as the quality association of engine repair companies , require their members to use only original spare parts or identification parts.
Warranty claims
It is not uncommon for manufacturers to lose or limit their warranty claims if parts from other companies are installed instead of original parts. In individual cases, however, there are always court rulings that contradict this. If a component fails during the statutory warranty period, the manufacturer usually has to provide a free replacement part within a reasonable time and usually also for free installation (but not free transport). Whether the manufacturer has to deliver the spare part free of charge is regulated by the "intended use" in the enclosed documentation: If the device was not operated or used correctly, the user has to bear the costs for the spare part himself. After the warranty period, this claim does not apply and the user must purchase the replacement part at his own expense. With the installation of an original spare part, many manufacturers give a new, additional warranty on the new component from the installation date as a special purchase incentive.
Success factor: spare parts logistics
For complex technical products (e.g. vehicles, electronic devices, machines, etc.) to be successful on the market, not only a successful design and good technical data, but also a good supply of spare parts ( spare parts logistics ) are required .
As part of his economic considerations, the buyer may opt for a more expensive product if he believes or can be certain that spare parts will be available quickly if required. Because high failure costs are often disproportionate to the lower purchase price (e.g. excavator , aircraft , truck )
Do-it-yourself spare parts
In mechanical engineering, it is not uncommon for contracts to stipulate that drawings or entire sets of drawings for in-house production of spare parts are also purchased. The manufacturer of such a machine agrees and provides not only the drawing, but also important information for correct manufacture such as material as well as heat and surface treatment. These spare parts may then only be produced for personal use. A sale to third parties is usually only allowed for a corresponding " license fee ".
Replica based on a sample
If defective components (e.g. the tooth of an excavator shovel) are manufactured by an independent third party on behalf of the end user without a drawing, simply by removing the dimensions, this is referred to as "replica according to sample". This is often the case if the manufacturer has had to file for bankruptcy in the meantime or has terminated the supply of spare parts. An objectively high price or a price that the customer perceives as excessive can also be a reason for the replica.
Counterfeit replicas
If spare parts are unauthorized replicas , we speak of plagiarism or pirate parts . As Bogus parts (engl. = Bogus counterfeit spare parts = parts) is referred to in particular in the aviation industry spare parts replicas that - provided with forged certificates - are outwardly difficult to distinguish from genuine parts. Due to the high price level, counterfeiting aircraft spare parts is particularly attractive. Unrecognized plagiarism made from inferior material poses a threat to aviation safety. Replicas are particularly punishable if the buyer concerned is deliberately deceived through the use of falsified certification marks, and damage is or may result.
Guarantee, additional guarantee
For branded goods manufacturers often provide a spare parts warranty from. So z. B. a car manufacturer for a period of ten years to be able to deliver spare parts for a vehicle. The supply of spare parts becomes a logistical challenge. The guarantees often have an impact on the higher price of the product, but this is how they distinguish branded products from noname products .
Exchange part
For expensive spare parts, an exchange part is often offered in order to minimize the costs of the repair. The defective replacement parts that are taken back can be efficiently repaired in larger numbers (e.g. alternators or retreaded tires on vehicles).
Spare parts catalogs
Many manufacturers keep their spare parts in an electronic spare parts catalog . The most common type of representation is the exploded view : The assemblies are shown "as if exploded" so that the individual parts can be easily identified and given a position number. This refers in a parts list to the article number of the replacement part you are looking for. With this number, the workshop or the end customer can indirectly buy the spare parts from specialist dealers or the manufacturer.
The catalogs used to be printed on paper, then as microfilm (so-called " microfiche ") and now offered digitally.
Wear and purchase parts lists
Buyers of complex machines often ask the manufacturer to provide lists of "wear parts " with the expected service life so that these parts can be purchased in good time and kept in the company's own warehouse at the given time. Increasingly, the storage and prompt provision of the manufacturer is increasingly required by contract. The "purchase parts list " includes all parts that can be freely purchased on the market regardless of the manufacturer (e.g. ball bearings , switches , pneumatic cylinders ). With the help of these parts lists, it is possible to operate highly complex systems, including through preventive maintenance, without long downtimes.
Design protection
Design components such as According to current case law in Germany, e.g. a fender or a bonnet of a car body may not be copied by third companies: the manufacturer has special protection on these parts due to the high creative value of a successful car body. Even the supplier of the car manufacturer who produces the "original parts" for the original body is not allowed to sell these parts without the consent of the car manufacturer (the so-called " OEM "). To do this, he has to acquire a " license " from the car manufacturer , which of course makes these spare parts more expensive. The EU Commission wants to change this fact in the interests of the consumer, but this is met with fierce resistance from the car manufacturers.
Pricing
The design of the optimal spare part price is a calculatory art.
Manufacturers often want to increase the profit margin of their products through spare part prices. If the parts are too expensive and they cannot be adequately protected by patents or design protection, a lucrative market for third parties will quickly emerge.
criticism
The criticism raised is that for many products, including cars and household appliances , spare parts are often only offered by the manufacturer at prices that are significantly higher than those on the free market. The repair of a defective device can appear uneconomical, also in connection with high labor costs. This can motivate the customer to buy a new one , possibly also in the sense of the planned obsolescence . This can be the case in particular if the manufacturer's guide times and not the specific shorter working hours are billed for the repair .
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Regulations of the Block Exemption Regulation (EC) No. 461/2010
- ↑ a b c Quality and test regulations for engine repairs (PDF; 616 kB).
- ↑ EU Commissioner: Design protection for spare parts should fall. In: Spiegel Online . August 26, 2004, accessed January 5, 2017 .