Rhino Products is investing more than £5 million across stock, people, production and processes as part of a significant programme of improvements designed to deliver a faster, more consistent and more reliable service for their Locks 4 Vans customers, following the van security business's acquisition by the leading LCV accessory firm early this year.
Over the past six months, the business has been making changes behind the scenes to simplify how its products are configured, manufactured, stocked and despatched, with a particular focus on improving product availability and reducing lead times.
A more stock-led approach
A key part of the investment has been the move from a predominantly made-to-order model towards a more stock-led approach. By simplifying product configurations and restructuring the L4V part-code system, the business can now hold more popular lock combinations as standard sales kits, ready for quick despatch.
More than 2,000 new part-code combinations have been created to cover popular lock positions and configurations. These standard combinations will soon be available on a next-day despatch basis, helping customers access the products they need more quickly.
Investment beyond stock
The £5 million investment extends beyond product availability, with improvements being made throughout the L4V operation.
New warehouse racking, production and mezzanine layouts have been introduced to improve stock organisation and product flow, while the L4V team has also been strengthened across planning, production, despatch and quality. The Rhino Group has also installed a lean lift tower to service both of the L4V mezzanine production levels at their Ellesmere Port factory.
The business is also introducing new packaging across the L4V range, alongside clearer labelling on individual components to make products easier to identify, handle and install.
As part of the wider sustainability focus across the Rhino Products Group, L4V is also moving towards fully recyclable boxes, helping to reduce packaging waste.
Customer support is being improved too, with a new online fitting instruction portal and updated fitting instructions being rolled out across the range to reduce paper waste.
Steve Egerton, CEO at the Rhino Products Group, said:
"The changes we're making are designed to have a direct impact on our customers. More stock, simpler ordering, more efficient production and faster despatch all contribute to a more consistent service.
"There is a lot of work happening behind the scenes, but the objective is straightforward: to make it easier for customers to get the L4V products they need, when they need them."
The investment forms part of the continued development of Locks 4 Vans since joining the Rhino Products Group, bringing together the resources and expertise of both businesses while maintaining L4V's specialist focus on commercial vehicle security.
With further improvements continuing across the operation, L4V is building a stronger platform for future growth while delivering a more efficient and reliable service to its customers.
More stock. Faster despatch. Simpler ordering. Better product support.
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