Poor spare parts management is one of the biggest profit leaks in repair shops. Studies show that repair businesses lose 8–15% of annual revenue due to mismanaged inventory. Here's how to fix that.
The Most Common Inventory Problems
- ❌ Don't know how many parts are left until you run out mid-repair
- ❌ Parts get lost or stolen with no tracking
- ❌ Over-ordering ties up capital in slow-moving parts
- ❌ No visibility into which parts are most profitable
- ❌ Warranty replacements not logged, causing accounting gaps
Smart Inventory Management: The 5-Step System
Step 1: Categorize Your Parts
- 🟢 Stock: Ready-to-use parts in good condition
- 🟡 Salvage: Parts pulled from broken devices
- 🔴 Return: Original parts to be returned to customers
Step 2: Set Minimum Stock Levels
If you use 8 iPhone 15 screens per month, keep a minimum of 3–4 in stock. Get an automatic alert when you drop below that threshold.
Step 3: Link Parts to Repairs
Every time you use a part for a repair, log it. The system automatically deducts from inventory and adds the cost to the repair ticket.
Step 4: Run Monthly Reports
See which parts you use most, which brands are most profitable, and where you're over-stocked.
Step 5: Track Supplier Performance
Log which supplier you bought each part from. If a batch has high defect rates, you'll know exactly where to go back.
📦 Inventory Management — Free with RepairERP
Stock tracking, low-stock alerts, waste management — all in one dashboard.
Get Started Free →📊 A well-run inventory system typically saves repair shops 8–12% of their annual revenue in unnecessary losses.