We service our dealer parts inventory in Michigan and Northern Ohio.  

Dressell Inventory Company, Inc. operates from 9 am-5 pm on weekdays (Monday - Friday). 

Here are some helpful tips: 

1. Don’t Overlook the Importance of Good Parts Personnel

Your department runs lean-in personnel. That’s why it’s no surprise that when a parts order arrives it’s tempting to assume that the amounts received match the amounts ordered. That way you can quickly receive the stock and move onto the next task. Unfortunately, though, vendors make mistakes. Make sure your shipping and receiving clerk and warehouse staff are well trained. The dealerships that invest their time and money in this area are rewarded many times over. Most of the discrepancies in a Physical Inventory can be attributed to poorly trained staff.

Before putting your new parts on the shelves, verify that the numbers match the shipping receipts, and also match the parts bin labels. Otherwise, your records will be inaccurate before the parts have even been handled by staff or sold to customers.

2. Store Your Parts Thoughtfully 

While it takes less time and thought to put new stock wherever you have space, considering where you put it can help reduce shortages and misplaced parts. Always face the part numbers out whenever possible.

Taking the time to create an effective inventory organization system and then ensuring it is implemented and followed can result in greater accuracy and it will, more than likely, have a positive effect on your productivity and dealership efficiency!

3. Put Parts Back Where They Came From

This may seem straightforward, but many dealerships suffer from parts being put back in the incorrect place or not being put back at all.

By ensuring that you have implemented a simple and time-saving process for managing returned parts, you can increase accuracy and decrease the number of parts that go missing or get misplaced.  

4. Maintain Efficient Inventories

Most manufacturers these days have auto-replenishment programs that are now mandatory.  This does not mean that their programs don’t need to be managed.  Now, more than ever, the person in charge of ordering must manage these programs. We all know what happens when you have too little inventory. However, having too much inventory not only uses up working capital but also increases the chance of obsolescence.  It also makes it more difficult to monitor and manage your inventory, increasing inefficiencies, and inaccuracies.  Don’t let the manufacturers dictate 100% of your stocking levels.

Take the time to review the turnover for each item and determine if you can cut back on the depth of in-stock items. Once you have done this, set minimum stock amounts that reflect the turnover and supplier lead time to minimize the likelihood of being caught without the item on hand.

This will minimize the amount of inventory you are controlling within the shop and help to streamline your processes.

5. Complete Regular Inventory Checks 

The more frequently you check your inventory, the easier it will be to spot errors and problem areas. This will, in turn, have a positive effect on your inventory records.

Focus on the fastest moving items, and then the highest dollar parts. Take a couple of bins each day throughout the year and check your accuracy.  By doing so, you can identify the areas that your staff need more training on.  If you know that some parts never seem to match your records, take the time to check their levels more frequently. This will help you to identify problems as they occur, and hopefully, identify the source and resolve the issue.

Another area that you should focus on is your Special Ordered Parts.  You should inventory and correct the SO’s every month.  Many times these orders do not get filled, and ultimately end up as a variance at inventory time.