No previous works have focused on the topic of inventory reduction and optimization to the extent that this one does. Spare Parts Inventory Management: A Complete Guide to Sparesology(TM) by Philip Slater covers the whole part's life cycle, from initial purchase to final disposal, and addresses issues throughout, including maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO). The author, Phillip Slater, was described in a recent podcast as "truly one of the leaders in the MRO information segment."
Sparesology is a term coined by Slater to describe the discipline of optimizing the physical, financial, and human resource management processes of spare parts inventory management. Sparesology is much more than just inventory optimization. It involves an understanding of the complete "ecosystem," within which the spare parts inventory is managed, and seeks to ensure that all of the factors influencing this management work together to achieve an organization's goals.
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Spare Parts Inventory Management: A Complete Guide to Sparesology(R) combines content you might find in several different texts into a well-organized and easy to use reference.
This is a fantastic guide for anyone interested in having a successful spare parts inventory management system. Reviews Right from the beginning, I knew this would be a good read. Every aspect of spare parts management, cradle-to-grave is addressed. Innovative concepts, such as inventory 'prevention' and 'timing, ' are introduced, and matrices translate complex concepts into easily understood visual references.
To clear the path for success, the author starts the journey by identifying potential landmines that can sink a spare parts inventory management system at its onset. I found the section, 'Five common supply chain techniques that you should
not use for spare parts management' particularly insightful.
A useful discussion addresses perceptions of the financial impact of spare parts. It explores the delicate balance of the key players and their own 'silo' perspectives and agendas, and helps the reader understand the ever-ongoing battle between the thought that spare parts 'cost money' and the idea that downtime is a deadly cost that must be avoided. Examples and simple calculations provide some great guidelines for decision making. As a bonus, the difference between policies and procedures, as well as valuable and specific guidelines for writing both, are included.
This easy to read guide to understanding the human factors (trust) offers no-nonsense techniques for applying data-based decision making in the establishment of a robust spare parts inventory management system. It combines content you might find in several different texts into a well-organized and easy to use reference that deals with everything from clean sheet design of a system to best practices and continual improvement for mature systems.
Spare Parts Inventory Management: A Complete Guide to Sparesology(R) is a fantastic guide for anyone interested in having a successful spare parts inventory management system."
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Marnie Schmidt, Author of
Tribal Knowledge: The Practical Use of ISO, Lean and Six Sigma Together. www.marnieschmidt.com
"It's like Phillip is coaching you one-on-one. He addresses the full life cycle of spares, clearly shows the unique nature of spare parts management, and provides practical guidance on critical policies and best practices. Spare Parts Inventory Management: A Complete Guide to Sparesology(R) belongs on the shelf of every spare parts organization. I definitely would recommend it to my clients and students.
Phillip Slater's latest book continues his unique and engaging writing style. He draws on his decades of experience in spare parts management and delivers a book that is pleasantly conversational, as if I am sitting across the table from him, and he is coaching me one-on-one. This book is also unique as it addresses the full life cycle of spares, from initial requirements forecasting through to use and final disposal.
The author clearly shows the unique nature of spare parts management versus other types of inventory -- distinctions that require different considerations in planning and control. In easy to understand terms, he dispels the myths associated with spares and provides practical guidance on critical spare parts policies and best practices that favorably impact the bottom line.
Spare Parts Inventory Management: A Complete Guide to Sparesology(R) is practitioner oriented and belongs on the shelf in every spare parts organization. I definitely would recommend it to my clients and students."
--Dr. A. Patricia Murrin, A.P. Murrin and Associates; Supply Chain Management Department Chair, The National Graduate School of Quality Management; Adjunct Faculty, Walden University; Adjunct Faculty, Northwood University. You can find her on LinkedIn.
"Slater sticks with proven systems and best practices born out of real-world experience. As timely as it is useful, Spare Parts Inventory Management: A Complete Guide to Sparesology(R) is a 'dirt under the nails' guide that translates just as well in the boardroom as in the parts storage cribs.
Many organizations don't understand the need to manage spare parts until something affects the bottom line, then it is 'all hands on deck.' That is where Phillip Slater's new book comes in. As timely as it is useful, Spare Parts Inventory Management: A Complete Guide to Sparesology(R) is the natural addition to the author's earlier publications.
Slater has a gift for making unfamiliar subjects seem less intimidating. He sticks with proven systems and best practices born out of real-world experience. Such is the case with this latest book, wherein he lays out the need for properly addressing industrial spare parts and the steps to thoughtfully
Slater, Phillip: -
Phillip Slater has more than 22 years of business improvement experience. While the last 12 of these have been spent in operations and management consulting, the first 10 were spent 'hands on' in industry learning by direct experience. It was during this time, and by learning from both his successes and failures, that Phillip developed many of the approaches that his company, Initiate Action, applies today.
Based on his experience, Phillip has authored a number of management books including
A New Strategy for Continuous Improvement and
Smart Inventory Solutions. Over the course of his career Phillip has worked in at least a dozen countries and across most industries. He presents training courses for APICS, is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and The National Speaker's Association of Australia. Selected operational improvement achievements include:
- As a manager, taking an underperforming manufacturer to be the profit leader in its group of companies
- Assisting a client to achieve more than 20% in operational cost reduction
- Assisting other clients to achieve tens of millions of dollars of operational improvements
- Assisting a client to achieve a 42% reduction in inventory
- Assisting other clients to release millions of dollars in cash from excess inventory
For the past five years Phillip has donated his time as a Non Executive Director for Yooralla, one of Australia's leading disability service providers. In addition to his operations improvement consulting work, Phillip is also available for corporate speaking and training.
