Subject Area: Spare Parts Know How FAQs

Ready to start achieving more with your spare parts inventory management?
 
This page answers many spare parts management training and development questions and will tell you all you need to know to get started.

Why was SparePartsKnowHow.com created?

Phillip Slater, the Founder of SparePartsKnowHow.com, started his career as a maintenance engineer. During that time he learnt two things real fast.

1. If you don’t have the right spares, then production stops until you do.
2. There is a big difference between managing inventory and managing spare parts.

These two facts lead Phillip to develop tools and techniques specifically for managing spare parts. He applied these as a consultant and had outstanding results.

Phillip’s clients then requested a way to get continuing access to this critical information online. And so SparePartsKnowHow.com was born.

You might be interested in reading this article: Adopting a Zero Inventory Mindset.
 

What are Your Mission, Vision and Values?

Our mission is to provide practical insights that enable people identify new opportunities to reduce excess expenditure on spare parts inventory.

We achieve this by providing a comprehensive range of resources plus consulting and training options.

You can read about our Mission, Vison, and Values at SparePartsKnowHow.com
 

How is Managing Spare Parts Different to Other Inventory?

The practical reality is that there is a big difference between managing inventory and managing spare parts.

The simplest explanation is to think about insurance spares.

Almost all of what you read about inventory management is based on a retail model of inventory. This means that if something doesn’t move then you get rid of it. With spare parts you can’t do this. The best example is insurance spares. You want them in stock, but you don’t want to have to use them because that means that something has gone horribly wrong!

If your inventory management is largely based on a retail model then you will not have what you need, when you need it.

This is why some of the world’s best known companies utilize the training and services at SparePartsKnowHow.com.

You might be interested in reading this article on The Rules of Spare Parts Management.

Want to know more? You might be interested in this video The Two Big Secrets of Spare Parts Management.

Why Use Online Resources?

Accessing online resources provides many benefits, the most obvious of these are:

1. Cost savings: no travel and accommodation expenses for training
2. Convenience: no extended time from work
3. Flexibility: study the content when it suits you

Plus, here are a few less obvious reasons:

1. You can pause and repeat the video content
2. You can review items that you might be expected to know – without embarrassment
3. You can move ahead and work at your own pace
4. There is no-one standing over you saying, ‘do you understand this?’

On all measures our online resources approach is superior to traditional class room training.

Want to know more? You might be also interested in reading this article How to Stop Wasting Time and Energy with Spare Parts Inventory Management Training.
 

How Does Self-Paced Training at SparePartsKnowHow.com Work?

Joining SparePartsKnowHow.com unlocks access to the content for that level. You can then access that content wherever you have access to the Internet.

With our Advanced Certificate Course there are no classes to attend and you can study at your own pace. You can ‘dip’ in and out of the content whenever it suits you – for the term of your membership.
 

Your material and presentation is very clear and easy to understand and I have learned so much. I wasn’t trained to manage an inventory but have grown into this position.

Denise Garner
Spare Parts Manager Customer Care Group
Haarslev
 

What Levels of Online Access Are Available?

You can select from three levels of access to the content.

Pro

The Pro level membership gives you access to all of our content and equips you with the know-how and skills to effectively manage all aspects of spare parts inventory.

The Pro membership is designed to flexibly provide both structured training and ad-hoc resource access.

If you are looking for structured training, then work your way through the Advanced Certificate course.

If you are looking to address specific issues, then access the content in that section of the Spare Parts Management Library.

Once you join you can access everything – at a time and place that suits you.
Read more >>>
 

Elite Teams

The Elite Team membership is a company-level membership that gives your team members access to all of our content and equips them with the know-how and skills to effectively manage all aspects of spare parts inventory.

The Elite Team membership gives your registered team members:

• Pro level access
• Group on-boarding session
• Transferable membership
• Quarterly progress report

Read more >>>
 

Base

The Base Level includes access to:

• All blog posts
• A selection of five spare parts management related eBooks and resources
• Our Insider’s Tip of the Week, spare parts management tips sent directly to your inbox and available only to members at SparePartsKnowHow.com
• Regular updates on new articles, videos, webinars and special events

Base level access is complimentary.
Read more >>>
 

I want to compliment Phillip Slater on the professionalism, ease of understanding and practicality of the modules. SparePartsKnowHow.com is of a world class standard and suitable for any industry in the world.

Ernie Thaver
Supply Demand Manager
Sasol Mining
 

How Do I Decide Which Level is Right For Me?

That really depends on your job role and goals.

To help you make this decision, we have created a listing with what we believe is the appropriate content and program for a number of common roles. These include:

Storeroom & Warehouse Personnel
Supervisors and Managers
Improvement Program Leaders

Here is a link to that list.

If you are thinking about training a team and would like a tailored solution, then please contact us.
 

How Do I Join and Pay?

Joining is easy!
Visit our Joining SparePartsKnowHow.com is Easy page for information on and payment options.
 

What Support Do I Get?

For Pro and Elite Team levels, if you have a question about any content included in that level then just email us using the Online Coaching feature and you will receive a prompt response.
 
This support is provided by Phillip Slater, Founder of SparePartsKnowHow.com.
 

How Do I Qualify for a Certificate?

There is nothing like a certificate to validate your studies and know-how!
 
To qualify for a certificate you need to complete the quizzes associated with the Advanced Spare Parts Management Course. The quiz links are clearly labelled on the access page for each module.

Please allow 7 days for certificates to be issued.
 

The online training program helped our team to better understand the complexities of spare parts management. We recommend [this] for anyone looking to expand their understanding and skills with spare parts management.

Askar Andirov & Sabit Trumov
Spare Parts Superintendents
Karachaganak Petroleum
 

What About Continuing Professional Development and CPD Hours Relating to Spare Parts Management?

Many professional organizations require members to log their Continuing Professional Development (CPD), and some also count the number of hours spent in CPD. SparePartsKnowHow.com can contribute to your CPD requirements. Some of the organizations which require this include:

• The Chartered Institute for Procurement and Supply (CIPS)
• Australasian Supply Chain Institute (ASCI)
• Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT)
• American Production and Inventory Control Society (APICS)
• Institute of Supply Management (ISM)
• Project Management Institute (PMI)
• Association of Asset Management Professionals (AMP)
• Asset Management Council (AMC)

Please check with the relevant organization.
 

What if I Have More Spare Parts Management Training Questions?

Simple, just contact us and ask!