As a service and parts leader in your dealership, you know that sometimes parts literally and figuratively get put on the back shelf. Parts are either in stock, or they are not. They are new, or they are not. And they are ready for the next service job, or they are not.

When service is in high demand and extraordinarily busy, it can be easy to forget to manage parts in your quest to drive dealership success. However, parts sourcing, cost management, inventory control and handling procedures can combine to make or break these two departments’ profitability and your dealership’s health, particularly in the current market.

That’s why we’ve invited experienced parts leader and dealership trainer Patrick Weekly of NCM Associates to lead this practical session on innovating in these key areas of the parts department. Along the way, you’ll learn the importance of efficient parts management in driving success in your dealership. After all, the parts department is the backbone of operations and potentially an important contributor to the bottom line, so overcoming the challenges that come with managing this department is critical.

By the end of the session, you’ll be armed with innovative best practices for sourcing your parts, controlling your inventory, managing costs and handling parts you can apply to help your parts department outperform the market and lift your service and parts departments to new levels of efficiency and profitability.

• Understand how to achieve effective and strategic parts sourcing 

• Examine how to manage costs beyond negotiating lower prices

• Review inventory control techniques and tracking systems

• And develop safe and efficient parts handling procedures

Patrick Weekley is a trainer with NCM Associates. Patrick was also a client before coming onboard as part of the team; for more than 20 years, Patrick Weekley has helped parts and accessories departments become more profitable. He has developed several key principles around these four areas: Employee Productivity, Inventory Management, Discounting and Shipping.

When Patrick Weekley works with dealerships on their parts and accessories departments, he brings a new set of tools for their toolbox. He truly has a knack for getting to the heart of any problems with a few short questions and a little research. Fresh eyes and a fresh approach are two of the reasons many dealers have invited him to do a deep dive into their parts departments. His 20-plus years of experience in the industry has given him a historical perspective, as well as allowing him to help dealers anticipate changes on the horizon before they have to make cuts to compensate for them.