What is the difference between inventory planning and inventory control in the AutoPower system?

AutoPower manages your parts through two strategic levers designed to maximize your largest capital investment. Inventory planning focuses on the future by aligning order quantity and timing with sales and production capacity to meet customer demand while minimizing investment. Inventory control manages the onsite stock in single or multi-warehouse locations, using automated workflows to display exactly what is available, what is committed to a sale, and precisely where it is located within a warehouse

How does the system help us identify "stuff" that is eroding our warehouse profits?

AutoPower distinguishes between “stock” that sells and “stuff” that simply takes up space. The system uses velocity ranking (A-B-C Ranking) to identify slow-moving items that increase carrying costs and decrease turnovers. By identifying these “dogs,” the system provides the data needed to liquidate dead stock and replace it with high-demand parts that improve margins and warehouse utilization.

How can we maintain uptime for customers when critical parts are backordered?

Through the AutoPower Inventory Network (AIN), your team can search for parts in real-time across hundreds of other AutoPower distributors. This creates a “virtual inventory” that allows countermen to locate hard-to-find parts in seconds and use a built-in distance calculator to find the stock closest to your location. This capability builds supply chain resilience and ensures you can fulfill urgent service shop needs even when local supply is tight.

Can we automate our replenishment process for erratic or seasonal product lines?

Yes. AutoPower offers three distinct ordering methods: Forecasting (trend-based), Stock Level (Min/Max), and Averaging (straight average). While Forecasting is ideal for steady movers, the Averaging method is commonly used for purchasing seasonal product lines during the off-season. For new items or those with erratic history, the Stock Level method acts as a safety net, ordering up to a defined maximum once the quantity falls below the minimum.

How does barcoding technology improve our warehouse accuracy and efficiency?

The WMS Barcode Module utilizes RF (Radio Frequency) technology to provide up to 99% inventory accuracy. By using wireless scan guns for receiving, put-away, and picking, you eliminate the time-consuming and error-prone nature of manual entries. Additionally, barcoding allows you to track Work-in-Process (WIP) inventory—which can account for up to 30% of your stock—ensuring that parts committed to a repair or rebuild are never “lost” on the shop floor.

How does AutoPower simplify the complexities of Core Management and REMAN?

AutoPower views cores as a profit center rather than a burden, providing integrated modules for Vendor, Customer, and Remanufacturing Core Management. The system maintains a perpetual core inventory, allowing your shop foreman to see how many “dirty” cores are available to be cleaned and rebuilt. This provides the Remanufacturing department with the controls needed to manage production efficiently based on actual sales demand.

Can the system help us manage inventory levels across multiple branch locations?

Absolutely. The Branch Balancing module calculates inventory shortages and overages at each of your locations to ensure stock is distributed effectively. It produces the necessary picking tickets to transfer inventory from overstocked branches to those with a shortage, minimizing the need for new purchases while maximizing your existing assets.

How does kitting functionality differ for point-of-sale versus stocked assemblies?

The system supports both Make-to-Order (Point of Sale kits) and Make-to-Stock kitting. Make-to-Order kits calculate component costs at the moment of sale, while Make-to-Stock kits are manufactured in advance for the shelf. The system uses Advanced Bill of Materials (BOM) to track every component and labor hour used in an assembly, ensuring your finished goods reflect accurate serialized costs. Analogy: Managing a heavy-duty inventory without integrated planning and network sourcing is like a pilot flying through a storm without radar. You know you’re moving, but you can’t see the “icebergs” of dead stock ahead or the “safe harbors” of available parts in the network. AutoPower acts as your high-definition radar and navigation system, allowing you to see exactly what is on your shelves and what is available across the country to keep your customers’ trucks on the road.

Inventory Management Software Features for Parts Distributors

With AutoPower inventory management, independent distributors and service companies can develop a systematic approach to managing what is typically their biggest capital asset. The module contains proprietary optimization technology to help users stock the right inventory to meet customer demands, maximize revenue and minimize costs.

This module’s robust algorithms and forecasting tools provide:

Sales Forecasting
Forecast Error Estimation
Configured Service-Level Targets
Replenishment Lead Times
Prepaid Shipping Consideration
Order Frequency
Embedded Holding Costs

Additionally, AutoPower’s integrated ERP system complements sound inventory management with functions and features such as:

EDI Vendor Purchase Orders and Invoices
EDI Advanced Shipping Notices
Kitting (Made to Order and Made to Stock)
Core Management
Single- and Multi-Branch Purchasing
AutoPower Inventory Network (AIN) access

For a free demonstration click here or call 800-229-2881

Discover the complete AutoPower Solution

AutoPower is the ideal provider of flexible ERP solutions for independent parts and service companies in the heavy-duty truck and automotive aftermarket industries. We power our customers’ future by utilizing the best technologies. We power their businesses by providing optimal efficiencies, productivity and profit gains. We power up quickly with immediate deployment solutions backed by rock-solid service.

CONTACT INFORMATION

AutoPower Corporation
400 Technology Park
Lake Mary, FL 32746

PH 800-229-2881

info@autopower.com