SCE
technologyreview
With a robust WMS in place, auto parts supplier Carquest can now turn emergency orders around in under two hours. With a robust WMS in place, auto parts supplier Carquest can now turn emergency orders around in under two hours.
Carquest revs up
its order operations
FOR A MOTORIST WAITING IN A REPAIR
shop for a part needed to fix a broken-down car,
minutes matter. And for a company like
Carquest that supplies those parts, it’s absolutely
essential to have up-to-the-minute visibility into
warehouse inventory in order to meet requests
for expedited parts deliveries.
In fact, enhanced inventory visibility was one
of the key reasons why Raleigh, N.C.-based
Carquest Auto Parts installed a warehouse management system (WMS) in a number of its distribution centers (DCs). The software allows the
company to quickly determine whether it has a
specific repair part in stock.
“In the automotive parts business, we rely on
special-order products, so being able to sell [a
part] as soon as it hits the [DC] shelves is a big
deal,” says Lane Lavrack, distribution center management systems (DCMS) manager–IT application development and maintenance for GPI
Technologies LLC, which handles call center support for Carquest. “The ability to have instant visibility to the products allows us to sell the items
sooner than before because the WMS systems
update inventory for our ordering system in near
real time.”
ORGANIZED FOR SPEED
Founded in 1974, Carquest today operates a
chain of 3,300 auto supply stores in the United
States, Canada, and Mexico. The privately held
company—whose parent is General Parts
International—does not release revenue or sales
figures.
