In the fast-paced world of automotive service departments, parts management is the lifeline that keeps everything running smoothly. Yet, many dealerships find themselves grappling with inventory challenges and missed upsell opportunities, often resulting in frustrated technicians and unsatisfied customers. Did you know that franchised dealers wrote 270 million repair orders in 2024, generating a staggering $156 billion in service and parts sales, according to NADA Data? Despite these impressive figures, an alarming 12% of repairs weren't fixed on the first visit in 2025, with parts unavailability cited as a major factor. This translates to lost revenue, diminished customer satisfaction, and increased competition from independent shops that have already captured 12% of service visits since 2018. The stakes couldn’t be higher for parts departments that are the backbone of fixed operations profitability. But there's hope. By leveraging intelligent recommendations and inventory insights, your dealership can transform its parts department into a powerhouse of efficiency and profitability. In this guide, we'll explore cutting-edge strategies for optimizing your parts department, focusing on setting realistic first-time fill rate targets, integrating aftermarket and OEM parts sourcing, and harnessing the power of autonomous parts-running robots. We'll also delve into best practices for connecting scheduling to parts availability, ensuring that your service advisors are never booking blind repair orders again. Whether you're dealing with inventory obsolescence, struggling to meet fixed absorption goals, or simply looking to improve your parts department's contribution to overall dealership success, this guide will provide you with the tools and insights you need to stay ahead of the curve.