By : Venessa Di Vito

Let’s be honest—parts delays are painful. They stress the team, frustrate customers, and eat into profits. I talk to shops every week, and the same issues come up: wrong parts, damaged parts, or no ETA in sight.

First step? Hire the right person to manage parts. Someone organized, detail-focused, a good communicator, and familiar with your systems. Even with great tools, the wrong person means ongoing problems.

Next, give them solid training: clear checklists, vendor contact, regular check-ins—it truly makes a difference.

Then, review your suppliers, systems, and habits. Are you mirror-matching parts before install? Keeping a small stock of common items? Giving your estimators the time to get it right?

With the right people and smarter processes, you can reduce delays. It won’t be perfect—but it can get better.

Picture credit : Autoplus performance