At Ressler Toyota in Bozeman, Montana, Parts Manager Mitch Brady wasn’t fighting fires or rescuing an inventory in distress. In fact, his operation was already performing well. But Mitch wanted more than “good enough”—he wanted precision, creativity, and a way to elevate an already-strong department into something exceptional.

As he put it, “The main goal of PartsEdge was to sharpen the knife of our inventory.”
And sharpening is exactly what happened.

The Challenge: Hidden Inefficiencies in a Strong System

Even in high-functioning parts departments, inefficiencies can hide in plain sight. For Mitch, one of the biggest obstacles was a familiar one: global phase-in and phase-out settings inside the DMS. They worked fine on paper, but in practice, they inflated stock levels—especially on bulky, slow-moving, or discontinued parts.

“We didn’t really feel like we had any problems,” Mitch said, “but as we dug in with PartsEdge, we started finding issues we didn’t know we had.”

That is the challenge of a seasoned optimizer. The more refined the operation, the more nuanced the opportunities.

The Solution: Letting Creativity Lead—With Structure Behind It

With PartsEdge, Mitch gained the ability to fine-tune, customize, and ultimately design an inventory strategy that matched real-world conditions—not generic DMS defaults.

He began expanding and differentiating inventory sources, treating discontinued parts, damaged returns, and special orders as unique categories with their own behavioral rules. This allowed him to broaden stocking coverage for same-day repairs while tightening control of slow-moving segments.

Mitch put it perfectly:
“PartsEdge makes it a lot more fun to be creative with the inventory. The numbers show the creativity is working, and that gives us an edge.” 

The result was a healthier, sharper, more flexible system that responded to demand—instead of bloating around it.

The Impact: Broader Coverage, Lower Excess, Smarter Mix

Over just six months, the results told a clear story:

✔ Productive Stock Increased by $40K

Productive mix rose from 37.23% to 39.76%, meaning more capital moved into parts that actually turn.

✔ Excess Inventory Dropped by $17K

Tighter parameters meant tighter shelves—and a cleaner balance sheet.

✔ Obsolete Inventory Reduced by $19K

13/13 obsolescence fell from 6.85% to 3.18%, nearly cutting dead stock in half.

✔ Greater Breadth Without Extra Spend

Active part numbers jumped 43% (2,574 → 3,691) without inflating total investment.
This is the definition of strategic breadth expansion: more coverage, same dollars.

✔ A Healthier Total Inventory

Inventory grew by around $65K—but in the right areas, supporting same-day repairs and stronger customer experience.

Every improvement came from a simple but powerful shift: moving from “one-size-fits-all” inventory rules to data-driven, part-specific strategy.

Why This Matters

Seasoned parts managers like Mitch already know their inventory inside and out. What they want isn’t help—they want leverage. They want the ability to be creative without the risk, to take smart chances without sacrificing control, and to run a department that reflects their expertise.

That’s what PartsEdge provides:
A sharper lens. A steadier hand. A partner that amplifies the instincts of talented managers.

Build Your Own Success Story

Curious which manager profile you align with—and what improvements might be hiding in your inventory?

👉 Take the Parts Manager Profile Quiz

Ready to create more clarity, confidence, and control in your parts operation?

👉 Schedule a free 15-minute demo

Both resources are quick, practical, and built to help you take the next step toward a healthier, more profitable parts operation.