NEW GM PARTS MANAGER - RIM

[tthompson1234]

I am trying to get some input regarding RIM and GM. I am a new parts manager and come from an import make and their inventory management system would assist in stocking parts we sold. The percentage of "protected parts or suggested parts" made up 85% plus of our inventory. What is common with RIM as a percentage of inventory for rim suggested parts vs non suggested or protected parts?

Any ideas or best practices would be appreciated for getting inventory under control or what winning looks like on the gm side. thanks

[LivinDaDream]

Good morning and welcome, tthompson! I'll go first .... RIM-protected dollars make up 60% of my GM inventory, yet only account for 35% of our sales, averaged over the last 12 months. RIM likes to pick up only the popular numbers in your inventory, and if the part number falls on any service bulletin or service action/campaign, it is EXCLUDED from RIM proposal or protection, and GM will turn that off in the middle of your stocking of any such number. Watch your RIM messages and you will see them turning off protection on certain numbers, and then turning it back on when they feel that they want to jamb us up again. Their stocking "logic" sucks and you will need to watch that closely. (1 demand on A popularity, 2 hits on B, 3 hits on C). They don't look at demand "cycles", but instead "sales" ... so, if you've sold 10 bolts on one sale and it's a "c" item, you should stock it!! NOT !
Can I ask what DMS you are on and maybe which import line you come from ?? I too come from an import background and have used all of the major DMS's.
Hope this helps !!

[bigmac]

Once a month RIM creates a return for parts they recommended 15 months ago. You have to go under "Obsolescence Protection Query" and approve the return. Click on the tab "Created". If you don't do this, you will eventually loose protection on these parts.

[Mike Nicholes]

As parts manager you have the ultimate responsibility to stock the right parts at the right time. First: make sure your DMS is programmed to do FOR YOU what YOU WOULD DO FOR YOURSELF if no other conditions existed. RIM is not an inventory control system; it is a marketing system that benefits the goals of the company without looking at the SPECIFIC demand patterns for the individual dealership, rather it looks at a marketing area which can change over a distance of 10-15 miles in many marketplaces; and it totally different for a rural marketplace that is geographically isolated from others. So, if your DMS is programmed to do what you would do for yourself, and IF you properly input all the demand for parts in YOUR marketplace; and you fully post all the lost sales for parts you temporarily don't have, your DMS will be more accurate (the buying guides) than any system of marketing produced by someone, or some company, outside of YOUR marketplace.
This won't fix the problem since the standards for "compliance" have been slowly raised, which limits your ability to control what you buy and when you buy it. Work with it the best you can; stocking a part and then being able to "return it" in 15 months with no sales history is like giving the seller an interest free loan.
Harsh talk... maybe, but the statistics from the largest data base of parts inventory histories proves otherwise. In the last analysis, the parts manager, properly trained, is a better buyer than any remote factory program.

[MSInventory]

In the last analysis, the parts manager, properly trained, is a better buyer than any remote factory program.

AMEN Mr. Nicholes!!!!

[Mike Nicholes]

new to RIM; deep sincere prayer might help; seriously; read and listen to the parts managers that frequent this forum; many of them will be a great source of how to deal with the 'satan of the industry' called RIM

[oakleyc2]

One thing to check is how many days supply or reorder at level depending on DMS and how its set up. You will have to remember on your fast moving parts that it will be 2 days or more for it to restock. You can set min qtys and when you want it to reorder if its a fast mover that ships from someplace other than your local PDC. Like said before watch for the list of returns on the 15th of the month and make sure you approve them. RIm help desk will tell you that if not approved that month it will roll over to the next but i wouldn't count on that. With the new PASE program requirements remember that the compliance is based on dollar and not part number count.

[LOKI1]

With the new PASE program requirements remember that the compliance is based on dollar and not part number count.
I guess I missed something here.

[MultiLineManager]

The PASE program requirement is for RIM purchase loyalty is 90% and based on dollar not part number count.
However you still have to maintain RIM compliant (80% or 85%), this one is calculated on part number proposals accepted, not dollar amount.

[tthompson1234]

Thank you for all the responses. I appreciate the feedback and look forward to sharing more ideas. Thank you