Truck spare-parts sourcing for Ivory Coast
LIFA verified three suppliers for an Ivorian auto-parts distributor, adding quality tests and lot records after counterfeit brake-pad findings.
- The buyer
- An Ivorian distributor in Abidjan serving 40+ transport fleets with commercial-vehicle spare parts.
- The product scope
- Brake pads, brake discs, suspension arms, and filters for heavy trucks.
What needed to change?
Counterfeit brake pads were found in 2 of 5 tested batches; fleet clients threatened to exit contracts; prior suppliers offered no traceability, making it impossible to prove authenticity.
How LIFA managed the work
We verified 10 suppliers including production and testing evidence.
We ran OEM-grade quality tests (friction coefficient, hardness) on critical safety parts.
We implemented batch traceability: lot numbers and certificates issued with every shipment.
We negotiated first-article inspection for any new reference before mass production.
3 verified suppliers engaged; counterfeit incidence eliminated; 2 fleet contracts renewed; reorder rate up 38% as clients cited verified provenance as a differentiator.
From our company project database, with the work, approvals and results shown together.
What this project shows
Safety-critical parts require test evidence tied to the batch being supplied. Traceability allowed this distributor to explain provenance to fleet customers.
Client identities, supplier contacts and confidential commercial terms are withheld from this public company record.
