Ducati NA CEO Michael Lock is leaving?

[Travman]

Shake-Up at Ducati North America
http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/rumors/rumor-michael-lock-leaving-ducati-north-america/

[superjohn]

That'd be too bad. Locke was good for Ducati NA.

[ducatiz]

Oh great.  :-/

[DoubleEagle]

Not something I wanted to hear in this down economy ..........especially the Motorcycle economy.

Dolph       

[Raux]

well according to their press officer who answered the thread! when he left work the night before, no changes pending.

[JEFF_H]

one of the more successful and controversial personalities in the motorcycle industry

what about him is controversial?
terrblanche, yes...but Lock is a really nice down-to-earth guy.

[cyrus buelton]

Outside of dealer support which I have never been impressed with, but could depend on what dealer(s) in the Ohio area I have used, managing DOC's, and race events, what is their real existence in the world? (actually a legitimate question from me)


They sure as shit don't stock parts. I wish they'd bring back a US DC.

I just got a 26$ speedo cable from Ducati Indianapolis (Travis in the Parts department ROCKS) that had to be shipped from Italy to Indianapolis and then to me.

I think shipping it from Italy to Ducati Indy superseded the cost of the part. Hopefully it was included in a shipment of other parts too, but didn't sound like it.

[ducatiz]

Outside of dealer support which I have never been impressed with, but could depend on what dealer(s) in the Ohio area I have used, managing DOC's, and race events, what is their real existence in the world? (actually a legitimate question from me)


They sure as shit don't stock parts. I wish they'd bring back a US DC.

I just got a 26$ speedo cable from Ducati Indianapolis (Travis in the Parts department ROCKS) that had to be shipped from Italy to Indianapolis and then to me.

I think shipping it from Italy to Ducati Indy superseded the cost of the part. Hopefully it was included in a shipment of other parts too, but didn't sound like it.

Part of the problem of the "old" Ducati (pre-TPG) was that every dealer had a stock of parts and getting an out-of-stock item took months (even for common items).  The "JiT" they use now keeps a monthly shipment coming to the states from the factory -- that way anything needed by a dealer is theoretically no more than a month out.

The old design kept millions (well, maybe hundreds of thousands) of dollars in parts tied up at dealerships and many of them had less-than-ideal inventory management, i.e. NONE.  Thus, they would list a manifset with 10 pieces of part X and go look in the drawer and they have none.

I think the current setup is the better of the two.  I think they should keep a NAmerica storehouse though, we are a big-enough market.

[cyrus buelton]

Part of the problem of the "old" Ducati (pre-TPG) was that every dealer had a stock of parts and getting an out-of-stock item took months (even for common items).  The "JiT" they use now keeps a monthly shipment coming to the states from the factory -- that way anything needed by a dealer is theoretically no more than a month out.

The old design kept millions (well, maybe hundreds of thousands) of dollars in parts tied up at dealerships and many of them had less-than-ideal inventory management, i.e. NONE.  Thus, they would list a manifset with 10 pieces of part X and go look in the drawer and they have none.

I think the current setup is the better of the two.  I think they should keep a NAmerica storehouse though, we are a big-enough market.

Yeah, I understand the JIT philosophy, just wish it was based in a warehouse here and not in Italy.

I am not sure they ship how you mention above.

My part was shipped when Travis placed the order and arrived in Indy 12 business days after the phone call I made to Indy. Travis quoted me 2 weeks on the part, so at least they are pretty make the beast with two backsing accurate on ship times.


Having excess inventory can also financially hurt dealerships and possibly DNA. If they have a shit ton of slow moving parts, their inventory levels on their balance sheet will look like shit.


I was pleased with how quick it took to get here from Italy based on previous stories.

Thank god it didn't happen in August.

[Raux]

maybe you hit it towards the end of the month on their standing order. so basically you caught the boat as it was pulling out of the port

[Raux]

i would think if this is the method they use, two times a month for dealerships would give them a better reputation with customers. plus some stock should be maintained for all standard service.

[ducatiz]

Their computer system calculates the ship times.  They have either a monthly or bi-weekly shipment of all the North American parts orders which come to the HQ and are UPS'ed to the dealers.

The delivery dates are based on pick time, ship from Italy and then delivery to US HQ. 

[cyrus buelton]

i would think if this is the method they use, two times a month for dealerships would give them a better reputation with customers. plus some stock should be maintained for all standard service.

Indy Ducati actually had one in stock, but was already promised to another customer.

I am sure some dealers keep on hand the basic parts that are commonly used more than others.

Seriously........who else needs a speedo cable for a 99 750?

Their computer system calculates the ship times.  They have either a monthly or bi-weekly shipment of all the North American parts orders which come to the HQ and are UPS'ed to the dealers.

The delivery dates are based on pick time, ship from Italy and then delivery to US HQ. 

damn, I must have made that phone call on the right day.

[muskrat]

why would you need to ship to Ducati NA in Jersey (I'm told there's a warehouse there) or Cupertino?
It's all computer tracking so no need for the added expense - I think.

[Raux]

bulk international shipping, probably cheaper, less paperwork, and less issues with customs on both ends.