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In today’s automotive industry, efficiency and productivity are more important than ever, especially in parts departments where organization is a necessity. One trend that has that entered the automotive space is the adoption of automation solutions to create more efficient workflows. Material handling solutions are helping dealerships meet customer demands by bringing an edge that can be game changing.

                By implementing automation solutions, parts departments can increase their accuracy and inventory management. Solutions such as vertical reciprocating solutions, tire carousels, and conveyors enable workers to retrieve and stock parts quicker, without as much physical strain, and allow for more floor space. Apart from that, these material handling solutions reduce error and improve safety standards.

In this blog, we’ll explore each of these automation solutions and how they can be integrated into a parts department. We’ll break down the unique advantages and explain how automotive parts departments can leverage them to transform their operations in a competitive industry.

                Vertical Reciprocating Solutions

                Dealerships continue to find innovative ways to improve their efficiency and safety. One common automation solution that we have seen on the rise are vertical reciprocating conveyors (VRCs). These elevator-like solutions transport materials from level to level within a facility.

                What are the benefits of vertical reciprocating conveyors?

                Using a VRC to transport items takes the physical strain off of workers. By having retrieval and stocking workflows automated, heavy or bulky items like tires or car bumpers are no longer lifted and carried by workers from level to level. This helps to minimize the risk of injury to workers and allows them to work on skilled tasks rather than the heavy lifting.

                While these automation solutions improve safety, they also speed up the retrieval and stocking process. Since the vertical reciprocating conveyor transports items up and down levels instead of manually being carried, this can streamline the process. This is advantageous for fast paced dealerships where serving customers quickly is an expectation.

                In terms of placement, we often see dealerships installing vertical reciprocating conveyors near a set of stairs. This allows workers to load up the VRC, send it up, and then walk up the stairs to retrieve the items at the next level. This can improve workflow by saving time with a more efficient process.

                | See more about how vertical reciprocating conveyors can operate in your parts department.

                Tire Carousels

                Another solution that we see in parts departments addresses the issue of a lack of space to store tires. Having the right tires in stock is a necessity as customers expect prompt availability, which means dealerships need to have several different kinds and sizes in stock. Tires are bulky and take up a lot of space, requiring much of a dealership’s floor space. Tires that are stored improperly can deform over time and then are wasted as they cannot be used. This is where Vidir tire carousels come in. These material handling solutions provide a space saving solution for tire storage.

                What are the benefits of tire carousels?

                Tire carousels are beneficial as they take advantage of vertical space instead of taking up more floor space. These material handling solutions have tires stacked in rows that rotate internally, bringing down whichever row of tires you call down. This means that dealerships can increase their storage capacity as more space is available.

                Vidir tire carousels function by rotating internally to bring down the correct row of tires when needed. This can speed up the process as workers are spending less time walking to find the correct tire and instead just calling the correct tire down with the technology. This also prevents workers from having to reach up or bend down to grab a tire. Compared to traditional racking, there is less strain, which means a reduced chance for injury.

            Conveyors

                One increasingly popular way to start moving materials in dealerships have been conveyors. These material handling solutions can increase efficiency by speeding up operations. There are several uses for conveyors depending on the needs of the parts department.

                How can conveyors integrate into automotive dealerships?           

Tires are items that are being frequently moved around dealerships, making tire conveyors an extremely useful material handling solution. Tire conveyors have roller supports across the platform to hold tires in place. Then, they can move up or down, transporting several tires at once. Since these roller supports hold the tires in place, these conveyors can be designed and installed at an angle, starting at ground level and tilting up towards a second level. This allows dealerships to store heavy, bulky items on a second level as the transportation of these items is easier. The speed can be controlled and direction reversed to best meet what the worker needs.

                | See how this tire distributor used a tire conveyor to move tires up and down levels.

                Another common use for conveyors in parts departments is the use of these automation solutions for ecommerce orders. Roller conveyors can be used to speed up the packaging process with automotive dealerships that have ecommerce divisions. Paired with a work bench next to the conveyor, this dynamic duo is great for packaging ecommerce orders. A worker can package an order on the bench and then send it down the conveyor to later be shipped off to the final end user. This process is sped up with the conveyor, allowing workers to package items quicker and more efficiently, saving time in the day and letting them allocate more time elsewhere.

                These are just three examples of how automation solutions can seamlessly integrate into current setups or new dealerships. These material handling solutions are designed to save time and space, making it easier on your workers to allocate their time elsewhere instead of taking the time to pick items.

                Our automotive and material handling team have experience with these automation solutions and are ready to help you discover how much time and money these can save you. Reach out to us here or give us a call at 1-314-582-4027 to get started today.