A typical motor vehicle has approximately 30,000 parts. Sooner or later, one of those parts is going to fail.
That’s where auto parts suppliers enter the picture. Whether they’re a small mom-and-pop shop or a nationwide chain with dozens of locations, an auto parts supplier is responsible for the proper storage and organization of thousands of different spare car parts, ranging from electrical components the size of a thumbnail to axles the size of a grown man. These parts are almost always kept in warehouses, sitting on shelves for months or years until the day comes when they’re needed.
Running an auto parts warehouse might seem simple and straightforward, but that all depends on who’s in charge and how they go about their business. Someone who struggles with staying organized and finds inventory management difficult will probably have a tough time. Those who enjoy a challenge and always look for ways to improve will succeed.
It also helps to know the basics of parts warehouse management. With this in mind, let’s take a look at seven key aspects involved in managing a warehouse full of spare automotive parts:
Hire the right personnel
Imagine if your local library was staffed with people who didn’t understand the Dewey Decimal System or didn’t care to learn. It would be wall-to-wall chaos. The same goes for those working in a large warehouse full of thousands of different parts. Managing an auto parts warehouse starts with capable workers who understand the importance of organization and know-how to find, retrieve, and stock the parts following existing protocol.
Invest in heavy-duty shelving
When added up, the value of auto parts stored in the typical warehouse can exceed hundreds of thousands of dollars, if not more. With this in mind, it’s critical to use heavy-duty warehouse racks built to hold large, heavy parts for a significant length of time. The shelves should be accessible and consistent in height and width to make it easier for workers to maneuver and retrieve. There should also be room to add labels without getting in the way of parts retrieval and replacement.
Use consistent labeling
It’s not uncommon to see warehouses relying on handwritten labels of varying sizes, shapes, and colors. Throw in the variations in handwriting among employees, and it’s easy to see how this can become a confusing mess. We suggest a consistent form of labeling. The easiest way to do this is to print labels with a simple font in a size that makes it easy to read from a distance. Different colors of paper and font should only be used if it serves an organizational purpose. For instance, blue may signal domestic parts, while red means European and green means Asian.
Make it make sense
Grocery stores go out of their way to put the most commonly bought items in the back of the store. That way, shoppers spend more time in the store and buy more stuff. Warehouses should do the opposite; parts in high demand should be kept in front, while those that aren’t should be kept in the back. This will save a lot of time for you and your customers.
Keep things tidy
It might seem silly to keep a warehouse clean and tidy. After all, it’s not like you’re hosting a dinner party there or subject to health codes like restaurants and food processing facilities. But debris on the ground can create hazards for workers, especially those operating forklifts. Meanwhile, accumulated dust and dirt can get inside boxes, coat parts in grime, and gum up the works before leaving the shelf. We’re not talking about keeping it so clean you can eat off the floor, but making a routine of basic cleaning will go a long way towards keeping employees safe and parts free from damage.
Keep digital records
This is for those who’ve stubbornly held on to paper records because that’s how their dad did it and his dad before him. Why not keep both paper and digital? That way, you have a backup if either one gets damaged, destroyed, or tampered with. However, we’re willing to bet if it came down to it, digital inventory records would be what saves the company in a pinch, not the other way around.
Install security cameras
Accidents, mistakes, and theft are more than enough justification to ensure every inch of the warehouse is monitored by live cameras at all times. They’re affordable and reliable, so what are you waiting for? Managing an auto parts warehouse might seem easy, but the day-to-day is more task-filled and problem-filled than you think. Success comes down to hiring the right people, sensible organization, and keeping careful track of everything coming in and out.