There Are Many Types of Spare Parts Data
In the world of spare parts inventory management there is plenty written and said about spare parts data.
The spare parts data that is your parts usage history.
The spare parts data that is your parts description.
The spare parts data that aids procurement.
But there is one piece of spare parts data that is not always made clear but that if you want to achieve better results or aim for best practice you absolutely MUST check.
The credentials of your advisors and consultants.
Let me explain what has me all fired up about this.
Here is What Happened
Recently I was asked to participate in an interview for an article. This is something that I do regularly and it is something that I do willingly, after all, it results in more exposure for me and my services.
The interview went fine. The questions were sent in advance and the writer and I had a good discussion about spare part inventory management issues, best practice, metrics and so on.
A few days later the writer sent me a draft of the article and this was when my alarm bells went off.
What I had not been told was that the article also included spare parts management comments from another person (who I won’t name for obvious reasons). This person has, let’s say, a different perspective to me – which is OK, it is the discussion of ideas that helps us develop our thinking.
In this case, however, these comments weren’t just expressing an alternate view, they were downright wrong when it comes to spare parts inventory management.
You see, the person being quoted was expressing a view that I call the ‘retail view’ of inventory management.
This is the classic inventory management theory that you might use to manage a retail outlet or maybe a wholesale business.
But regular readers of my material will know that these theories and algorithms are not applicable to the practical management of spare parts for maintenance and operations support.
This is not a matter of opinion; it is a demonstrable fact.
If you are not sure why, then read this article: Management of Spare Parts: Are you Using the Right Set of Rules?.
Some So-Called Experts Just Don’t Know
So why would someone say that these theories and algorithms are applicable when they are not?
Simply because they don’t know any better.
Maybe they have never managed a spare parts inventory.
Maybe they have only worked on theory.
Who knows.
What I do know is that I checked the LinkedIn profile of the other ‘expert’ and they don’t mention spare parts management anywhere in their history or experience – either as a practitioner or consultant. So, its not surprising that they got this wrong.
My reaction was to withdraw from this article because I didn’t want my name or my brand to be associated with content that I knew to be wrong.
Beware: Misleading Information is Out There
But here is the key point: the article was still published in a forum representing itself to be ‘expert’ in this field.
When I withdrew, the writer admitted to me that he did not have much expertise in this area and asked if I would help him to learn more! Yet he still published the article that I told him was wrong!
People will read that article and get the wrong idea of what to do. This will result in wasted time, effort and money as the companies they work for strive to improve their spare parts management.
Validate Your Sources
There is an old expression to not believe everything that you read and in today’s world this is truer than ever.
Before taking action on anything that you read, please validate the source, check the credentials of the author, read more of their content, check their reputation, look for testimonials and client lists that relate to spare parts inventory management, not just projects that the person has done or comments of being published x number of times in articles.
Satisfy yourself that this person actually knows what they are talking about when it comes to spare parts inventory management, don’t just take their content at face value because it is what you want to hear or it sounds familiar.
And if they are a consultant be sure that the credentials you see apply specifically to the person that you will work with.
And this, of course includes me. You can check me out here:
PhillipSlater.com
SparePartsKnowHow.com
LinkedIn Profile
Amazon profile
Or just contact me to arrange a call.
Keep on improving!
Phillip Slater