Spare Parts Know How

Spare Parts Inventory Management Training

  • Log-In
  • Start Here
    • Open Access
    • Foundation Playbook
    • Operations Playbook
    • Practitioner Playbook
    • Foundations for Teams
  • Expert Advisory Support
  • Enterprise Solutions
    • Inventory Optimization
    • Data Management
  • Knowledge Hub
    • Digital Library
    • Books
    • Obsolescence Risk Calculator
    • Criticality Assessment Tool
    • Playbook Selection Tool
  • Contact
  • About
    • Past and Current Users
    • Testimonials
    • FAQs
    • Phillip Slater

Fast and Slow Moving Inventory

February 28 spkhadmin

Do you label your spare parts inventory as fast and slow moving?

If you do, then I think that you are wasting your time.

Watch the video find out why.

Fast and Slow Moving Inventory

Video Transcript

Hi, my name is Phillip Slater and for the next couple of minutes I’d just like to give you something to think about.

If you’re managing spare parts inventory for use in your own company’s in-house plant and equipment, do you label some of that inventory as fast or slow moving? Because if you do, I think you’re wasting your time.

You see the idea of fast and slow moving inventory comes from the retail industry, where it’s really important to understand if your shelf space is being used productively. That is, are you selling the items that you’ve got in stock.

But when you have spare parts for use on your own plant and equipment, the issue is entirely different.
What you’re most interested in, is understanding whether you can get the part that you need, when you need it. And it really doesn’t matter whether that part moves often or infrequently. What matters is that you can get access to the part that you need, when you need it.

So whether it’s slow moving doesn’t matter because if it’s been in stock for 5 years and it’s still in good condition and still usable and you haven’t used one. But you need it and you can’t get one quickly and easily. Then you are going to have to stock it anyway.

You don’t get rid of that item just because it’s been on the shelf for a few years. Whether it’s fast or slow moving is irrelevant. What matters is the application of the part on your equipment.

Anyway, that’s just something to think about, my name is Phillip Slater.
 
 
 
 


For information on our Pro Level membership please visit our Pro Level page.


 
 
 
Posted by: Phillip Slater
 

Policies and Procedures

Join a Global Community

Trusted by:
+20,000 professionals in
+130 countries
See a sample of companies HERE

Open Access

Open Access to 20 Years of Spare Parts Management Know-How. No email required. No data collection. Just pure know-how.
Read more...

Foundations Playbook

Our Foundation Playbook is designed to answer question relating to the essential knowledge, tools, and techniques for effective spare parts inventory management.

Read more...

Operations Playbook

The Operations Playbook is the decision support resource for people who need to go beyond the basics and perhaps even revolutionize their company’s systems and approach.
Read more...

Practitioner Playbook

The Practitioner Playbook provides the most complete access to decision support resources, tools, and advanced content.
Read more...

Foundations for Teams

Foundatiosn for Teams is a live, online, interactive, team-based delivery of our Foundations Playbook content designed to provide your team with a common understanding of the basics of spare parts inventory management. Read more...

Latest Blog Posts

  • A Shift in How Spare Parts Knowledge Is Delivered
  • Doing the Hard Things Makes Spare Parts Management Easier
  • Why Every Plant Thinks Its Spare Parts Challenges Are Unique (and Why They Aren’t)
  • Avoiding Survivorship Bias in Spare Part Procurement: From Efficiency to Resilience
  • Survivorship Bias in Spare Part Inventory Management: A False Sense of Security
  • Email
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube

Copyright © 2026 IPIAIGHT PTY LTD.