GM parts MANAGERS please help.

[Richard]

How many of you still bin in Group # order?
Please Respond with either "Group" or "Part number".

[cwalden]

We set parts in bins by group #. I have recently thought about a different way to
inventory parts bins.

[AL HAGER]

WE STILL STOCK BY GROUP BUT I HAVE MOVED THE FASTEST ONE HUNDRED NUMBERS UP BY THE COUNTER AND UPDATE LIST EVERY TWO MONTHS

[Richard]

we currently stock our fastest 100 by the counter also, as well as campaign parts in a seperate bin by the shop counter. Currently we have several different storage area types. Tiny, which includes screws, nuts, studs, bolts, ect, and is stored in small sectional drawers. Small which go in regular bins. Medium, which go on open shelving. Bulk for sheet metal. Seperate areas for chemicals and belts.

[Gary J. Naples]

Hi Richard,

Depending on your inventory control system, and your current facility structure, you may also want to consider stocking by bin location rather than by group or part number.

Consideration is given to frequency of movement and size only. Group sequence and part number sequence are ignored. The fastest moving parts based on sales activity are always located closest to the counters. This can be a most efficient method which can also address unique stocking requirements.

However, a few things you may want to consider if opting for this method: Accuracy of bin locations are extremely critical, as they should be anyway, but even more so when arranging strictly by bin location. As sales ranking of parts changes so does their location, so inventory undergoes constant rearrangement. The ability to rely on group or part number sequence to locate a part no longer exists.

Gary J. Naples

[jdpetey]

With the exception of fast moving parts, the majority of our inventory is binned in the group numeric fashion. We are fortunate enough to have the space in our facility to put smaller parts on the first floor, and larger parts on the second floor. Both floors are binned in the same way the catalogs are laid out, with a few exceptions. The larger parts are located upstairs and fast moving parts are located near the counter. The best reason, I can think of, is that if the computers are down, and you need to check a number, you at least have somewhere to start. Also, if counter help and people who put the parts away , put them in their respective bins, in numeric order, it is easier to visually check bin counts and note discrepencies.

[cwalden]

Richard, try to lay out your bins alphabeticly insted of numericly.
A part number with a bin location of for instance, A1A shows you that the part is in the 1st bin in the A section and on row A of that bin no matter if the part number changes or if GM changes the group number.
If you have ERA you should run an inventory
pad (the job # escapes me) every month in case of your computers being down.

[David S]

Richard:

Gary has the right idea. Especially, if you have any facility constraints. I have helped a number of dealers implement new storage techniques. Referred to by Toyota Motor Sales, USA as the 7 storage techniques.

There are, unfortunately, some concerns that need to be addressed when using these techniques. The first of which is the capability of your DMS. ADP and Reynolds can be programmed to print Physical Inventory Count sheets with page breaks at different characters of the bin location. Some systems cannot and therefore would print one page for each bin location. If you issued a separate bin location for each part number you would have a separate page for each part number. Not fun, huh.

Another concern is your receiving procedures. It becomes imperative that the bin location is attached to the part upon receipt. Some manufacturers provide the ability for you to download your bin location with your stockorder so that the part is received with your bin location printed on the label. In cases where this is not possible I have used Avery label to print the stockorder generated on your DMS. These labels are then used to check in the stockorder. A label with pertinent data including the bin and customer name if special ordered is placed on each part number. This facilitates efficient stocking of the parts.

If the process is thought out in advance, these methods of parts storage will provide your parts department with increased efficiency.

David S.

[PaulWilding]

Hi Richard,
I gather from your original post that you just wondered if Group sequence had gone away. The responses seem to show that it is still there and it is still viable. Gary warned about not being able to find parts without a computer and that is very true of pure location driven stocking. probably you best compromise is to keep your fast moving parts at the counter, as you already do, but keep the bulk o f the stock in group/part number rotation. Easy for anyone to locate a part just based on the group but also stock close to the counter for fast service. If possible avoid using too complex a bin numbering system, i.e. stick with just numbers if possible. There are only ten numbers to deal with but twenty six letters that look too similar to others or numbers. Try to divide your department into areas that can be defined by a three digit number (100, 200, etc) Main floor area=100 Counter=200, or whatever suits your needs. If you try to keep your fastest moving parts in both places and show both locations on the system, keeping up with sales volume changes will not be as difficult. When you have parts with more than one location each location should be flagged, on the bin, to show the other location. Sure makes it easier. The type of storage equipment you use can have some bearing on how you have to setup your numbering system and sequences. Good luck, remember the only good way is the way that is good for you.

[DMuller]

Hi Richard,

I'm gathering from your question that you may be new to GM. I've been with GM for only two and a half years. Prior to GM I worked for European dealers. The Europeans incorporate the group number into the part number, GM does not. When I came aboard here the bins were set up in group numeric. The problem for me was that the bin tags did not have the group on them. It was a nightmare to find the parts. We still bin by group, but one of my first projects was to print new bin tags showing the group and part number.

However, the concept of binning by part number instead of group and part number has run through my mind. In other words, put the whole department in part number order. Of course taking into consideration the size of the parts (fast movers, small drawers, small bins, bulk bins, and large for sheet metal). In this scenario you do not need to know the group to find a part, just the part number. The big problem here is the mind set of the old timers and the fact that this would be a monumental undertaking have keep me from seriously persuing this concept.

Best regards.