| Beginning this month, Mazda Motor Corporation renews its Electronic
Parts Catalog (EPC) which is established for Mazda's dealers and parts/maintenance
shops to search for and order repair parts. The new catalogue EPC2, the
first application utilizing the company's new broadband network, will
progressively be introduced for these business partners nationwide.
While the previous EPC was only available on CD-ROM, the main feature
of the EPC2 is the addition of a web version for use in an Internet
environment. The web version offers access to the latest information
on parts inventories, vehicles and the contents of parts catalogs, etc.
Parts suppliers, Mazda's dealers and parts/maintenance shops can expect
significant improvements in work efficiency, resulting in increased
customer satisfaction.
New features of the EPC2:
| (1) |
Information is updated more frequently, compared to once a month
for the CD-ROM version. Vehicles manufactured are registered on
the following day, while the parts catalog is updated three times
a week. |
| (2) |
While the original CD-ROM version allowed users to conduct a search
using part production numbers assigned at the time of production,
it required a separate system for inventory inquiries and orders.
However, linking the system with that of parts dealers, the web
version improves on this by enabling users to instantly search for
and order new parts that can be fitted to a certain vehicle, even
if the number of a suitable part in stock differs from the original
production number. Through this system, dealers can provide customers
with an accurate delivery date and cost estimate immediately. |
| (3) |
Having once obtained an ID number and a password for the web,
the parts dealers and parts/maintenance shops simply access the
website to use the catalog. There is no need to replace CD-ROMs
that were available for each vehicle, which is expected to boost
work efficiency, as well as providing customers with the best services
through latest information. |
Mazda is the first automaker to begin establishing a broadband network
and the EPC2 is the first in a series of new applications to be introduced
utilizing the network. As the broadband network will dramatically increase
the volume and speed of information transmitted, further improvements
in work efficiency and customer satisfaction are expected.
|
