Mechanicsburg, Ohio
Car Parts Storage Tune-Up
Faced with a cramped service department and more parts than ever, Dave Kehl Chevrolet found an efficient solution for car parts storage.
Providing the Service Department with More Horsepower
Dave Kehl Chevrolet became a successful dealership in Ohio due in large part to its reputation for friendly sales associates and excellent customer service. Their ability to provide impeccable customer service was backed by a parts and repair department, where technicians rely on parts being accurately stocked and intuitively arranged to ensure repairs and service can be completed in a timely fashion.
Putting the Brakes on Everyday Issues
With the value of customer satisfaction in mind, Parts and Service Manager Paul McMahill knew that having organized auto parts storage would be critical – and the auto parts storage in the dealership’s original service department just wasn’t cutting it. The old facility’s narrow 24” shelving aisles were difficult to access and organize, and the steadily growing number of parts needed for service was putting more stress on the already maxed-out shelving.
Every time an auto tech couldn’t find a needed part, it increased service times and decreased the efficiency of the department. McMahill realized they were in dire need of a new car parts storage system, adding that in the old parts room, “The bins were too close together, you couldn’t turn around, you couldn’t put parts in there. It was dreary.”
The dealership had previously worked with a local equipment company to install overhead doors and industrial shelving for their building, and on a visit to the company’s offices, McMahill noticed an ActivRAC® Mobilized Storage System being used to store filing cabinets. He wondered aloud about adapting ActivRAC® for their car parts storage at the dealership. After brainstorming with the equipment company, McMahill settled on an ActivRAC® 7M system to house car parts, tools, and hardware in the service department.
Revving Up Parts Organization to Improve Customer Care
The ActivRAC® 7M eliminates aisles in storage spaces by mounting shelving on mobile carriages and can carry up to 7,000 lbs. per carriage, making it ideal for storing small parts and various tools when space is at a premium. By using one bank of static shelving flanked by mobile carriages, Dave Kehl Chevrolet was able to design around an existing column in the facility and utilize much of the existing shelving.
McMahill appreciates the ease with which technicians can use the Mechanical Assist handles to move the shelves and access the aisle needed. The additional space created by the creative design of the shelving system permits more area to dedicate to vehicle service, and the dealership can now store three times the amount of parts in the same amount of space. But most importantly, the service department has increased its efficiency, leading to quicker repair times and exceptional customer service.
"We’ve been really happy with the system. It’s unbelievable the difference it’s made."
- Paul McMahill, Parts and Service Manager
ActivRAC7 and Spacesaver’s complete range of storage solutions have helped dealerships, OEMs, and wholesale auto parts distributors find a balance between keeping in-demand parts stocked while retaining space for slow-moving parts as well. To learn how your business can overcome storage limitations, contact your local Spacesaver distributor for a free site assessment and begin planning an optimized storage space.
