Kubota Tractor, Osaka, Japan, announced at its dealer conference in Dallas, Oct. 30-Nov. 3, that it is focusing on how to weather current economic uncertainties and on improving its parts deliveries to its dealers.

“We must remember Sept. 11, but we must also move forward,” said Mori Hayashi, Kubota Tractor president and CEO. “One of the company's continuing priorities going into 2002 will be improving its parts operation,” said Hayashi.

“We've experienced phenomenal growth at Kubota,” agreed Richard Corns, director of parts. “The parts operation must catch up.”

As a result, the company has increased its inventory of A parts by 50 percent, and B parts by 65 percent and is working with its Japanese parent to cut lead times by 75 percent.

“Kubota has also initiated a heavy inventory investment to support fill rates,” said Corns. “In the past two months, we've increased inventory levels by $6 million. Our goal is to get to a 100 percent fill rate on both A and B parts.”