How Parts Management Has Changed (and What’s Next) with Steve Fishel

Kaylee Felio sits down with Steve Fishel, Parts Manager at Titus-Will Toyota in Tacoma, WA, for a deep-dive into the evolving world of dealership parts departments. With nearly four decades in the business—most of it with the Toyota brand—Steve shares his journey from his early days after the Air Force to leading inventory parts operations through massive industry and technology shifts.

In this episode, Steve discusses the importance of adapting to change, embracing new inventory management tools, and building trust in both technology and your team. He explains the transformative impact of expanding from a handful of inventory “sources” to a data-driven, multi-source approach—saving time, money, and stress, while dramatically improving efficiency, stock order review, and returns.

Steve also opens up about the realities of department culture, why collaboration with service and sales teams is vital, and how embracing outside expertise (like PartsEdge) brought fresh energy and measurable results to his operation.

Whether you’re a seasoned parts manager or new to dealership operations, Steve’s story offers actionable insights on thriving amidst change and unlocking the full potential of your parts department.

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This show is powered by PartsEdge: Your go-to solution for transforming dealership parts inventory into a powerhouse of profitability. Our strategies are proven to amp up parts sales by a whopping 20%, all while cutting down on idle inventory. If you're looking to optimize your parts management, visit 🔗 www.partsedge.com

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Takeaways

1. Leverage Technology & Data

2. Trust the System

3. Collaboration Drives Result

Chapters

00:00 "Toyota Enthusiasm in Diverse Dealership"

05:27 Adapting to Changing Car Parts

08:45 Optimizing Inventory through Dynamic Coding

10:40 "Outsourcing Tech: A Game Changer"

14:11 Optimizing Inventory for Efficiency

18:20 Streamlined Stock Ordering Process

20:09 Trusting Chuck's System

24:44 "Teamwork and Management Alignment"

28:10 Reflecting on Self and Progress

32:41 Inventory Management Efficiency Boost

35:14 "Highlighting Parts Pros"

Kaylee Felio

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gotopartsgirl

Website: https://www.partsedge.com