Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) often incur unknown operational costs because of the wrong identification of spare parts in the aftermarket. Not only does it drain resources, but it also hampers the OEM’s brand reputation in the highly competitive market.
This makes it crucial for them to implement corrective strategies that ensure that dealers and secondary sales networks identify the correct spare parts and accessories every time. A spare parts catalog software streamlines this process by providing interactive features like multiple searches and parts highlighting.
This article explores the causes of incorrect part identification, its impact on aftermarket operations, and possible solutions.
What Leads to Parts Misidentification?
Service technicians may find it challenging to identify spare parts accurately due to multiple reasons. These commonly include the high complexity of catalogs and service time constraints.
Let’s learn about these factors in detail below:
Complex Catalogs
When there is an extensive number of spare parts, the catalogs become complicated. This makes it difficult for technicians to search for the needed part and identify it accurately. It also increases the risk that technicians may overlook the required part or confuse it with other similar-looking ones.
Insufficient Part Information and Unclear Images
Without clear images and complete information, technicians often struggle to confirm whether the spotted part is exactly the one they were looking for. This complicates the identification process and further leads to delays.
Limited Repair Time
Technicians often face pressure to complete repairs within fixed slots to minimize equipment downtime. This makes it essential to find the right part quickly when the machine breaks down. Due to such time constraints in repairing, technicians are more prone to make errors in identifying parts.
Complexity of Customized Parts Identification
Some industries like automotive, aerospace, and heavy equipment, make use of customized components extensively. Without specialized knowledge, the technicians may not be able to identify these specific parts.
Outcomes of Spare Parts Misidentification
Identifying the right spare parts is essential not only for reducing equipment downtime but also for improving operational efficiency. Wrong part identification leads to several concerns, such as high costs and safety hazards.
Rising Operational Costs
Suppose a technician incorrectly identifies a spare part and replaces it in the equipment. The machine will consider this part as an external component and might break down. This means the repair process needs to be restarted again, which involves reordering the new part. Sometimes, placing the wrong part may also damage the original equipment, leading to further expenses for the OEM.
Higher Equipment Downtime
When the replaced part is incorrect, technicians need to repeat the identification process and replace it with the correct one. This is how wrong part identification delays the repair process and stretches the downtime.
Reduces Efficiency
The need to restart the identification again may end up making technicians frustrated and might hamper their production. This reduces operational efficiency and causes further delays.
Compromises Safety
Using the wrong part of the equipment risks its safety and functionality. As the wrong spare part does not coordinate well with the machinery, it may cause serious threats like short circuits or result in a complete breakdown.
How Can OEMs Overcome Parts Misidentification and Save Costs?
Now that we know there are multiple consequences involved with wrong parts identification, it’s time to find possible solutions. Corrective measures such as staff training and advanced verification can rectify the parts identified incorrectly.
Provide Detailed Information
It is essential to provide detailed information that helps technicians to identify the required parts correctly. OEMs should make available descriptive details of the parts, such as part and model numbers and their variants.
Adding clear, high-resolution images allows technicians to spot even the smallest details. This rules out the possibility of misinterpreting the part with its similar counterpart.
Train and Educate Staff
To update technicians with the latest information on the spare parts in the catalog, OEMs must curate training programs. Well-strategized training provides technicians with adequate information about spare parts and how to identify them.
Educating technicians about using the spare parts catalogs correctly might be beneficial in organizations with new hires.
Strict Verification Measures
Implementing rigorous verification metrics allows OEMs to monitor the authenticity of spare parts. Before procuring parts from suppliers, check for identification marks such as QR codes and holograms.
Once the parts arrive, verify the packaging quality, manufacturer’s logo, and its unique batch number. Counterfeit parts commonly have poor packaging, inconsistent brand colors and design, and spelling errors.
Implementing Spare Parts Catalog Software
A spare part catalog software is a digital solution that provides extensive information about spare parts and accessories. It commonly includes details like part number, description, and price.
This software displays parts through visual illustrations that allow dealers to easily identify the needed parts and their components. OEMs can execute this software to ease parts search for their dealers and retailers and let them order when required.
Intelli Catalog for Accurate Parts Identification
Intelli Catalog is an AI-powered parts catalog software that simplifies spare part identification. Its interactive, user-friendly interface allows dealers to navigate easily and identify the required spare parts with accuracy.
Intelli Catalog enables dealers to place orders directly through the catalog, reducing the risk of ordering a similar-looking part or accessory.
Features of Intelli Catalog That Ensure Correct Part Identification
Intelli catalog facilitates several features that help to identify spare parts correctly, including:
1. Several Search Options
Intelli Catalog enables dealers and retailers to search for parts using numerous search options. These options commonly include VIN/serial search or model search, parts search, and figure search. AI-powered algorithms also allow users to make voice searches in natural language, helping them find required parts with minimal information.
2. Detailed Part Information
Intelli Catalog provides comprehensive and detailed information about the listed spare parts and accessories. This includes information about part numbers, quantities, units, and prices.
3. Magic Pic
The AI-powered magic pic feature enables image cleaning to remove the background from the image and improve its sharpness and brightness. This advanced AI feature of the Intelli Catalog allows dealers to enhance parts images and make their identification.
4. Parts Highlighting
This feature allows dealers to zoom into a specific part or component within an assembly. It also provides 2D and 3D illustrations for clear identification and accuracy. These illustrations help in highlighting the specific part, enabling dealers to order it directly through the catalog.
5. Mobile Accessibility
Apart from the native web-based software, dealers can access the Intelli catalog on a mobile application. This flexibility and ease of use allow them to retrieve spare parts information and features whenever required.
6. User-Friendly Interface
Dealers and retailers can seamlessly navigate through the user-friendly interface and find the required spare parts quickly. This makes the Intelli Catalog easy to use even for first-time users.
Conclusion
Identifying the wrong spare parts leads to problems such as rising costs and higher downtime. It also increases the risk of incompatibility with the equipment or a complete breakdown. To overcome this problem, OEMs should provide detailed information on all the spare parts listed in their inventory.
On the dealer's end, training technicians and educating them about the detailed identification process will help. OEMs should also implement strict verification measures to rule out the risk of sourcing counterfeit parts from suppliers. Executing a spare parts catalog software like Intelli Catalog ensures that dealers and technicians identify the correct spare part every time.
To know more about how Intelli Catalog can streamline parts identification and ordering for your stakeholders, get a free demo today.
