The PartsEdge Podcast

Ever wondered how your OEM’s inventory program really compares to other manufacturers—and how much control you actually have over your parts investment? In this data-driven episode, Chuck Hartle breaks down real dealership inventory data from 223 dealerships, 15 manufacturers, and more than $190 million in parts inventory. From productive inventory and automatic stock replenishment (ASR) programs to excess stock and obsolescence, Chuck reveals how manufacturer programs impact dealership inventory performance and where parts managers should be paying closer attention.

Chuck dives into the hidden costs of idle inventory, including “forced stock” parts, unfulfilled demand, special orders, excess inventory, and the growing challenge of obsolescence. He explains why roughly one out of every four parts analyzed had marginal sales, how manufacturer compliance requirements can put low-volume parts on dealership shelves, and why shrinking return opportunities have made managing non-program inventory more important than ever. Most importantly, Chuck shares practical strategies for taking back control—from strengthening special-order processes and challenging suggested stocking levels to strategically managing compliance and building an obsolescence reserve. Whether you want to benchmark your dealership against your OEM, reduce idle capital, or improve inventory turns, this episode provides a data-backed look at what’s really happening inside dealership parts inventories.

Takeaways:

1. Manufacturer Inventory Programs Can Protect Productive Parts—but They Don’t Necessarily Optimize Your Entire Inventory Investment.

2. Forced-Stock Parts, Unfulfilled Demand, and Shrinking Return Opportunities Are Major Drivers of Idle Inventory and Obsolescence.

3. Parts Managers Can Improve Inventory Performance by Strengthening Special-Order Controls, Managing Compliance Strategically, and Building a Plan to Purge Aging Inventory.

Chapters:

00:00 - Welcome & Introduction

01:50 - The OEM Inventory Showdown

03:48 - The Data Behind the Comparison

06:47 - Comparing Productive Inventory by Manufacturer

08:49 - How ASR Programs Impact Inventory

12:33 - What Defines Productive Inventory?

13:51 - Understanding Idle & Excess Inventory

17:18 - The Problem with Forced-Stock Parts

19:20 - Six Causes of Unfulfilled Demand

23:02 - Comparing Forced-Stock Inventory by OEM

27:16 - Why Obsolescence Has Increased

29:41 - The Growing Non-ASR Inventory Problem

34:04 - What Manufacturer Programs Really Control

36:33 - How Idle Inventory Hurts Performance

40:05 - Strategies to Take Back Control

41:13 - Managing Compliance & Obsolescence

45:02 - Using Return Programs & Parts Brokers

46:18 - Benchmarking Your Dealership

48:38 - How Your Inventory Stacks Up

Resources:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/partsedge-inc-Website: https://www.partsedge.com

Register for the next Webinar here!: https://my.demio.com/ref/rMLm7BvTB3gEzyCa

Ever wondered how much your DMS and source structure are really impacting your dealership’s parts profitability? In this highly tactical episode, Chuck brings decades of parts management experience to the table, breaking down how smarter source structures, dynamic day-supply settings, and strategic pricing can give parts managers greater control over inventory, margins, and daily operations. Packed with real-world examples and practical DMS strategies, this session is all about making your system work for you instead of constantly working around it.From separating fast-moving parts from slow-moving inventory to managing accessories, tires, bulk fluids, special orders, and “never stock” parts, Chuck explains how the right source structure can help dealers stock smarter and eliminate unnecessary excess. He also dives into one of the biggest problems facing parts departments: obsolescence—and why unfulfilled demand and “for stock” parts are often the real culprits behind aging inventory. Whether you’re looking to improve pricing accuracy, reduce excess inventory, better control special orders, or get more value from your DMS, this episode delivers the actionable strategies you need to build a more profitable and predictable parts operation.--------------------------------------------Takeaways:1. A Smart Source Structure Gives Your DMS More Power—and Your Parts Department More Control.2. Dynamic Day-Supply and Phasing Criteria Help You Stock Based on Actual Demand.3. Obsolescence Often Starts with Poorly Managed Special Orders, For-Stock Parts, and Unfulfilled Demand.

Chapters:00:00 - Welcome & Introduction01:04 - Why Source Structure Matters02:25 - The Problem with Poorly Configured DMS Sources05:45 - The Grocery Store Approach to Inventory09:36 - Breaking Inventory Into Strategic Sources12:11 - Competitive Parts & Retail Pricing15:08 - Managing Accessories18:28 - Managing Tires for Profitability20:49 - The Right Way to Manage Bulk Fluids23:16 - Managing Special Orders24:49 - The Challenge of Non-Stock Parts29:04 - Managing Recall & Campaign Parts30:58 - The Problem with For-Stock Inventory36:09 - Understanding Obsolete Inventory40:10 - The Benefits of Dynamic Source StructureResources:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayleefelioWebsite: https://www.partsedge.com

Chris Craig, FixedOps Content Developer at RockEd, joins Kaylee Felio to dive into the launch of Rocket’s powerful new training curriculum for parts departments. They get gritty on why parts managers and associates have been overlooked—until now.

From microlearning and gamification to actionable reporting and industry certification, Chris Craig breaks down how RockEd is changing the game for parts teams across the country. If you’re ready to fix the foundation, turn inventory faster, and give your team smarter tools, this episode brings the insights, energy, and optimism you need.

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Takeaways

1. Microlearning Empowers Busy Teams

2. Gamification Drives Engagement

3. Industry-Recognized Certification

Chapters

00:00 Military training and education

04:21 Balancing Army duties and work

06:40 Rocket's microlearning solution for dealerships

10:40 Understanding the parts manager role

14:25 Accessing Rocket Preview Mode

17:17 Rocketified learning platform overview

20:18 Checking out the RockEd app

Kaylee Felio

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayleefelio

Website: https://www.partsedge.com

Chris Craig

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-topher-craig

RockED Website

https://www.rocked.us/technician-skills

On this Parts Edge Podcast episode, Kaylee Felio sits down at the NCM Fuel the Future Fix-Op Summit with Derek from NUMA. Together, they dig deep into the tech transforming parts and service departments: proactive AI that turns every customer touchpoint into an opportunity for retention, revenue, and hassle-free communication.

Derek shares how NUMA’s “co-pilot” approach fixes the industry's biggest headaches—poor communication and missed service appointments. By streamlining inbound calls and digitizing the parts counter’s to-do list, NUMA empowers managers to get out of the weeds and focus on growth, customer satisfaction, and turning inventory faster. The result? Fewer bad reviews, loyal customers, and a serious impact on the bottom line.

From fixing the foundation of internal dealership workflows to bringing sales and service together, this episode is packed with gritty, realistic advice for managers who want inventory (and customer experience) to be anything but a guessing game.

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Takeaways

1. Communication drives retention and revenue.

2. AI frees your team for high-value tasks.

3. Integrating sales, service, and parts leads to better customer experience.

Chapters

00:00 AI tool for car dealerships

03:35 Challenges in service advisor roles

08:07 Streamlining service with the NUMA app

11:23 Increasing dealership service retention

13:30 Podcast guest introduction

Website: 

https://www.partsedge.com/profilequiz

Kaylee Felio

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayleefelio

Website: https://www.partsedge.com

Kaylee Felio sits down at the Fuel the Future FixedOps Summit with Roger Gutierrez from Biggers Auto Group to dig into what it takes to run a growth-focused dealership—and why fixing the foundation in service and parts is more critical than ever. From smarter scheduling and AI to sharper sales skills for the parts team, this episode is packed with practical advice and gritty optimism for every parts and fixed ops leader.

Roger reveals what it’s like to step away from the grind and immerse himself in innovation, lessons learned on managing people and process, and the powerful impact of clear communication—both with teams and customers. If you’re ready to turn inventory faster, give your managers better tools, and make every hour in the department count, this conversation is for you.

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Takeaways

1. Invest in Sales Training for Parts Teams: Equip your parts staff to sell complete jobs, not just parts, to strengthen reputation and customer satisfaction.

2. Fix the Foundation With Process and Communication: Tighten up scheduling and status update processes—these “basics” keep customers happy and teams accountable.

3. Face Weaknesses for Lasting Growth: Embracing vendor solutions or new technologies can be uncomfortable, but honest feedback and visibility are crucial for improvement.

Chapters

00:00 Learning about AI and data management

06:07 Importance of knowledgeable parts staff

Website: 

https://www.partsedge.com/profilequiz

Kaylee Felio

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayleefelio

Website: https://www.partsedge.com

This episode comes to you live from the NCM Fuel the Future FixedOps Summit, where the conversation focused on how innovation and collaboration are building a stronger foundation for dealership success. The discussion explored VinQ’s efforts to break down communication barriers between variable and fixed ops, leveraging advanced tech and AI to turn inventory management into a data-driven process, not a guessing game.

A key theme that emerged was the transformative power of accurate reconditioning estimates and tighter variable-fixed integration for maximizing profit and reducing costly variance. Several points were raised, including how technology is helping parts and service departments operate like co-pilots rather than siloed teams, empowering every team member to deliver exponentially greater results without siloed “trial and error” approaches.

If you’re passionate about fixing the foundation of your dealership operations—stocking smarter, reducing surprise costs, and giving your team better tools—this episode is a must-listen.

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This show is powered by PartsEdge: Your go-to solution for transforming dealership parts inventory into a powerhouse of profitability. Our strategies are proven to amp up parts sales by a whopping 20%, all while cutting down on idle inventory. If you're looking to optimize your parts management, visit 🔗 www.partsedge.com

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Takeaways

1. Overcoming communication gaps between variable and fixed ops—especially in recon—can add thousands in lost profit back to your bottom line.

2. Leveraging AI isn’t just about shiny tech; it’s about making every decision smarter and freeing up bandwidth for growth-focused work.

3. Fix the foundation: empower your current team to operate at a higher level rather than simply adding more staff.

Chapters

00:00 Enhancing vehicle appraisal process

04:13 Sales channels and innovation sharing

06:56 Transitioning to software investments

Website: 

https://www.partsedge.com/profilequiz

Kaylee Felio

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayleefelio

Website: https://www.partsedge.com

Ever wondered what separates top-performing dealership parts departments from the pack? On this high-energy episode, Kaylee Felio brings gritty, actionable clarity to inventory management, smarter pricing, and the realities of working with your DMS. Packed with pragmatic advice and real-world examples, this session is all about giving parts managers the tools, support, and confidence to fix the foundation, turn inventory faster, and stop making inventory a guessing game.

From the power of daily sales reporting to avoiding the traps of obsolete inventory, Kaylee Felio covers the core habits and strategies the most successful teams use—plus, she isn’t shy about naming which DMS platforms offer real advantages (and where others fall flat). Whether you’re looking to reduce obsolescence, boost profitability, or finally get your arms around all those so-called “protected parts,” this episode delivers the tactical details you need to stock smarter and stay growth-focused.

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Takeaways

1. Consistent, Proactive Training & Reporting Sets Winning Departments Apart.

2. Your DMS Can Be a Co-Pilot—Or a Roadblock—Depending on How You Use It.

3. Obsolescence Isn’t Inevitable—But It Takes Grit to Fix.

Chapters

00:00 Encouraging audience questions

06:29 Managing staff shortages

07:55 Scheduling and optimizing short meetings

12:42 Issues with store migration data

16:11 Retail sales report insights

20:55 Retail pricing and markup strategy

23:16 Managing product pricing and profit margins

27:24 Challenges in Inventory Management

30:40 Analyzing dealership inventory levels

33:48 Managing obsolete inventory strategies

37:49 Analyzing inventory turnover rates

41:29 Forecasting obsolete inventory growth

46:18 Dealing with obsolete inventory

49:57 Honda's SRA and Inventory Management

50:52 Calculating true terms in inventory

54:14 Inventory management strategies

53:20 Tekions dealership strategy and pricing

Kaylee Felio

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayleefelio

Website: https://www.partsedge.com

In this episode, Dwayne Kinsley from LACarGuy joins us live from the NCM "Fuel the Future" Fixed Ops event. Dwayne opens up about why these peer-driven conferences matter, what’s keeping dealers competitive, and why retention is a bigger conversation than ever. We dig into the constant evolution of dealership technology—how to cut through all the noise, avoid vendor overload, and find the right partners to help your team move fast and stay ahead.

Dwayne pulls back the curtain on how true competition comes from outside the dealership world, what drives fixed ops profitability, and the tough calls parts managers are forced to make with ever-changing tech options. If you’re looking to sharpen your competitive edge and create more value for your customers, this episode is a must-listen.

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This show is powered by PartsEdge: Your go-to solution for transforming dealership parts inventory into a powerhouse of profitability. Our strategies are proven to amp up parts sales by a whopping 20%, all while cutting down on idle inventory. If you're looking to optimize your parts management, visit 🔗 www.partsedge.com

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Takeaways

1. Focus on customer value—convenience, speed, and having the right parts—drives real retention.

2. Technology moves fast; choose partners who prioritize customization, support, and adaptability.

3. Don’t get overwhelmed by vendors; streamline where you can, but never sacrifice quality or service.

Chapters

00:00 Networking at NCM Events

03:50 Focus on fixed operations

07:55 Startups getting acquired

Website: 

https://www.partsedge.com/profilequiz

Kaylee Felio

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayleefelio

Website: https://www.partsedge.com

In this episode, Adam Martel talks about stepping up from legacy processes, embracing PartsEdge automation, and what it’s like to turn the chaos of managing 50,000+ SKUs into a streamlined, growth-focused operation. From running smarter online sales to preparing for industry shifts like mandatory video MPIs, Adam shares gritty, optimistic insights on staying competitive and turning inventory faster.

We dig into the real-world challenges parts managers face: drowning in outdated DMS setups, legacy sources nobody even remembers, and lacking tools to break out of silos. If you’ve ever felt like inventory is a guessing game, this one’s for you.

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This show is powered by PartsEdge: Your go-to solution for transforming dealership parts inventory into a powerhouse of profitability. Our strategies are proven to amp up parts sales by a whopping 20%, all while cutting down on idle inventory. If you're looking to optimize your parts management, visit 🔗 www.partsedge.com

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Takeaways

1. Fix the foundation: Overhauling source structures and automating processes frees up parts managers to focus on growth, not data entry.

2. Turn inventory faster: Access to real-time, actionable reports empowers smarter stocking and helps reduce stale inventory.

3. We’re your co-pilot: With specialized partners like PartsEdge and Revolution Parts handling the heavy lifting, managers can stay lean and competitive—without drowning in tech headaches.

Chapters

00:23 Adam’s first podcast and NCM Summit vibes

01:25 Why Adam chose PartsEdge: “Buckets” metaphor and reporting clarity

02:31 The struggle with legacy DMS setups and impossible reports

03:07 Going from 15 outdated sources to 40 smart, automated ones

04:16 Why parts managers shouldn’t waste time on manual data entry

05:07 The daunting scale: 50,000+ SKUs and $750k inventory

05:28 Turning up online sales—250 orders over one weekend

06:17 Lessons from the summit: cross-department strategies and customer focus

07:03 Breaking down silos—why fixed ops needs one team approach

07:45 Bringing ideas home: prepping for video MPIs, evaluating tech solutions

08:47 The power of laser-focused partners versus DMS all-in-ones

09:01 Wrapping up: Stay gritty, stay optimistic, and keep building better parts departments

Website: 

https://www.partsedge.com/profilequiz

Kaylee Felio

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayleefelio

Website: https://www.partsedge.com

Dave Anderson, representing Evenflow AI, joins the PartsEdge Podcast from the NCM Fuel the Future Fixed Ops Summit to talk about what automotive can learn from healthcare and airlines when it comes to maximizing technician time, intelligent scheduling, and creating stand-out customer experiences.

Dave shares how smaller, more immersive conference formats spark deeper connections and actionable conversations with dealers, and reveals why transparent, proactive communication keeps dealership customers happy and coming back. Drawing from his experience in healthcare and airlines, he highlights practical wins dealerships can implement right now to turn inventory faster and deliver the kind of service customers actually rave about.

Fresh takeaways and gritty optimism, parts managers—this one is for you.

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This show is powered by PartsEdge: Your go-to solution for transforming dealership parts inventory into a powerhouse of profitability. Our strategies are proven to amp up parts sales by a whopping 20%, all while cutting down on idle inventory. If you're looking to optimize your parts management, visit 🔗 www.partsedge.com

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Takeaways

1. Bring scheduling front and center: Make it easy for customers by putting the scheduler where they expect it—right on your homepage.

2. Proactive updates = happier customers: Frequent, transparent communication reduces anxiety and bad reviews.

3. Learn by listening: Spend time asking customers and peers real questions. Growth comes from conversations, not just demos.

Chapters

00:00 Connecting at smaller conferences

03:27 Healthcare service and billing parallels

07:27 Taking time off for car issues

Website: 

https://www.partsedge.com/profilequiz

Kaylee Felio

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayleefelio

Website: https://www.partsedge.com