You Asked, We Answered: Why Should You Stock Common Wear Parts?

As the aerial industry continues to face product delays due to shipping and labor shortages, it pays to have the MEWP (mobile elevating work platform) and telehandler replacement parts on hand — especially common wear parts. That will reduce the amount of downtime needed to get a machine back on the job site and improve your efficiency.

Keep reading to learn why and how you should create an effective spare parts management plan.

Stock up on benefits
When it’s time to replace a part, you need to make the replacement as quickly as possible to get the equipment back on the job site. But if you don’t have the part in stock, you will need to either go to your equipment provider or order it. With the current state of delayed deliveries and parts shortages across industries, it could take some time to receive the new part. If you order the wrong part, those delays will be even longer.

That’s why it makes sense to take a proactive approach and keep extras in your product inventory to avoid that situation. Stocking common wear parts will allow you to repair the machine more efficiently, resulting in less unplanned downtime than if you had to wait for the part to arrive. That ensures the project stays on schedule.

Parts may also become discontinued, so having them in stock prevents needing to find another alternative. While there is the upfront cost of buying spare parts, you will save in the long run by reducing the cost of downtime.

MEWP and telehandler replacement parts can be purchased directly from the OEM, such as through JLG’s Online Express, or from authorized equipment providers, such as JLG’s network of equipment distributors and service centers.

Tips for stocking
The most efficient and economical way to stock common wear parts is to create a comprehensive inventory system. To do that, ask these questions:

• What equipment(s) is critical to our services — and what common wear parts does it use?
• What are the common wear times for parts we use? How would I characterize the parts? 

Once you have a better idea of what parts are critical to keeping your fleet up and running, start breaking down the specifics of the type of inventory you should stock. For machines that are integral to your services, you will want to have fully stocked spare parts. Even if a machine is new, that doesn’t eliminate the need for spare parts.

Maintaining an inventory list with lead-time and delivery information is also important. If there are parts that are regularly difficult to source or with known delays, those should be kept in your inventory. For example, they may only be available from a single vendor or must be shipped from overseas. 

You should also set aside a space for the inventory and organize the parts to save time when you need to find one. The system you use should be shared with anyone who needs access to the parts. Make sure they follow the check-out/in process so you keep an accurate record of parts and know when it’s time to order.

The organization process should include classifying parts. For example, designating parts as critical will help you prioritize them for ordering. You can create these classifications and prioritizations however best fits your parts, equipment and needs. A critical part is one that would greatly affect your machine’s performance if it fails.

Regularly review these designations as they could change over time. Also, check your inventory for any excess to help lower costs. That will allow you to see if there are any inaccuracies with the inventory records, as well.

Stock up on parts
Incorporating a stocking process for common parts is taking a proactive approach — as opposed to reactively ordering when they need to be replaced immediately, which can bring major results. As you learn to track and better manage the spare parts, you’ll also be able to increase your savings and benefits. 

Did you know that JLG’s customer support teams can help you with this? They can make recommendations or help you pull your purchase history through Online Express to see what parts you order the most and how often you ordered them. 

Ready to stock up on parts? Shop JLG’s Online Express inventory today.

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