Just in time at your repair shop: applying it with Onmotor

A full stockroom feels like security, but a part sitting on the shelf is money that does not come back to the till. Just in time proposes the opposite: having materials available only when they are needed. At a repair shop, that requires accurate information on parts usage and good relationships with suppliers. Here is how the method works and how the Onmotor system, developed in Brazil, helps apply it.

What just in time is and how it works at repair shops

Just in time is a management method that aims to minimize inventory and ensure materials and parts are available only when needed. For a repair shop, it means keeping parts and supplies in controlled quantities and avoiding the buildup that raises costs and takes up space.

The philosophy is simple: buy only what is needed, at the right moment. The challenge is applying it in a business that relies on agile management and available parts to keep cars from sitting idle.

How to apply it without running out of parts

Pure just in time rarely works for every item in a shop. A balanced approach is to keep minimum stock of fast-moving items, such as filters, oil and brake pads, and order slow-moving or high-value parts on demand, as long as you have suppliers who can deliver quickly. That requires knowing your usage and each supplier's lead time well.

How Onmotor supports just in time

Some ways the system helps:

• up-to-date inventory tracking
• purchase order control
• usage history to estimate demand
• organized supplier records
• centralized purchasing.

With that information, managers have visibility over inventory and can order parts as demand requires, avoiding overstock and saving resources. Real-time data also helps quickly identify what needs restocking.

The impact of just in time on inventory management

Too many or too few parts is a problem for any shop. With data on parts usage, purchasing becomes more precise and happens at the right time. That reduces storage space and the risk of parts becoming obsolete. With just in time, a shop can:

• avoid large investments in idle stock
• improve cash flow
• keep operations flowing, with essential items on hand.

Reports on parts usage help sustain this approach proactively.

Take your shop to the next level

Combining just in time with the Onmotor system helps cut inventory costs and gain agility. See Onmotor's plans or talk to our team.