Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Critical challenges of inventory management in service parts supply: A Delphi study

  • Published:
Operations Management Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The primary purpose of the study is to determine the critical challenges facing service parts managers and to help bridge the gap between research and practice. In order to accomplish this, a series of semi-structured interviews with 18 senior service parts managers from a variety of industries frequently dealing with service parts inventory issues was used as the basis of input for a web-based Delphi study. The results of the study include 18 commonly identified potential service parts inventory issues and ten key challenges for the service parts supply industry. The identified challenges should serve as a guide for both researchers seeking to contribute to the service parts body of knowledge and practitioners who are regularly faced with service parts inventory issues.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Botter R, Fortuin L (2000) Stocking strategy for service parts: a case study. Int J Oper Prod Manage 20:656–674

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brockhoff K (1975) The performance of forecasting groups in computer dialogue and face-to-face discussion. In: Linstone HA (ed) The Delphi method: techniques and applications. Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA, pp 291–322

    Google Scholar 

  • Buffa ES (1980) Research in operations management. J Oper Manag 1:1–8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cachon GP, Fisher M (2000) Supply chain inventory management and the value of shared information. Manage Sci 46:1032–1048

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cachon GP, Lariviere MA (2005) Supply chain coordination with revenue-sharing contracts: strengths and limitations. Manage Sci 51:30–44

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Christopher M, Lee HL (2004) Mitigating supply chain risk through improved confidence. Int J Phys Distrib Logist Manage 34:388–396

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Closs DJ (1989) Inventory management: a comparison of a traditional vs. systems view. J Bus Logist 10:90–105

    Google Scholar 

  • Closs DJ, Roath AS, Goldsby TJ, Exkert JA, Swartz SM (1998) An empirical comparison of anticipatory and response-based supply chain strategies. Int J Logist Manage 9:21–34

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Croston JD (1972) Forecasting and stock control for intermittent demand. Oper Res Q 23:289–304

    Google Scholar 

  • Dalkey NC (1969) Analyses from a group opinion study. Futures 1:541–555

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dennis MJ, Kambil A (2003) Service management: building profits after the sale. Supp Chain Manage Rev 7:42

    Google Scholar 

  • Doke ER, Swanson NE (1995) Decision variables for selecting prototyping in information systems development: a Delphi study of MIS managers. Inform Manage 29:173–182

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elliot GR (1986) The changing competitive environment for Australian banking/finance industry: reviews of a forecasting study. Int J Bank Manage 4:31–40

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ellram LM, Tate WL, Billington C (2004) Understanding and managing the services supply chain. J Supply Chain Manag 40:17–32

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Farris MT, Wittman CM, Hasty R (2005) Aftermarket support and the supply chain. Int J Phys Distrib Logist Manage 35:6–19

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fitzsimmons JA, Fitzsimmons MJ (2006) Service management. McGraw-Hill, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Foote B (1995) On the implementation of a control-based forecasting system for aircraft spare parts procurement. IIE Transact 27:210–216

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ford DA (1975) Shang Inquiry as an alternative to Delphi: some experimental findings. Technol For Social Change 7:139–164

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fortuin L (1980) The all-time requirement of spare parts for service after sales: theoretical analysis and practical results. Int J Oper Prod Manage 1:59–70

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fortuin L, Martin H (1999) Control of service parts. Int J Oper Prod Manage 19:950–971

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gibson B, Mentzer JT, Cook RL (2005) Supply chain management: the pursuit of a consensus definition. J Bus Logist 26:17–25

    Google Scholar 

  • Holmberg S (2000) A systems perspective on supply chain measurements. Int J Phys Distrib Logist Manage 30:847–868

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jones TC, Riley DW (1985) Using inventory for competitive advantage through supply chain management. Int J Phys Distrib Logist Manage 15:16–26

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kennedy WJ, Patterson JW, Fredendall LD (2002) An overview of recent literature on spare parts inventories. Intern J Prod Econ 76:201–215

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krautter J (1999) Inventory theory: new perspectives for corporate management. Int J Prod Econ 59:129–134

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Landis JR, Koch GG (1977) The measurement of observer agreement for categorical data. Biometrics 33:159–174

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lanford HW (1972) Technological forecasting methodologies: a synthesis. American Management Association, Inc, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee HL, Billington C (1992) Managing supply chain inventory: pitfalls and opportunities. Sloan Manage Rev 33:65–73

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee HL, So KC, Tang CS (2000) The value of information sharing in a two-level supply chain. Manage Sci 46:626–643

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lenard JD, Roy B (1995) Multi-item inventory control: a multicriteria view. Eur J Oper Res 87:685–692

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lummus RR, Vokurka RJ, Duclos LK (2005) Delphi study on supply chain flexibility. Int J Prod Res 13:2687–2708

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Malhotra MK, Steele DC, Grover V (1994) Important strategic and tactical manufacturing issues in the 1990s. Decision Sci 25:189–214

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martino JP (1983) Technological forecasting for decision making. Elsevier, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Mentzer JT, Flint DJ (1997) Validity in logistics research. J Bus Logist 18:199–215

    Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell VW (1991) The Delphi technique: an exposition and application. Technol Anal Strat Manage 3:333–358

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murry JW, Hammons JO (1995) Delphi: a versatile methodology for conducting qualitative research. Rev Higher Ed 18:423–436

    Google Scholar 

  • Patton JD, Steele RJ (2003) Service parts handbook. Solomon, Rego Park, NY

    Google Scholar 

  • Pfohl HC, Ester B (1999) Benchmarking for spare parts logistics. Benchmarking: An Int J 6:22–39

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sackman H (1974) Delphi assessment: expert opinion, forecasting, and group process. (R-1283-PR). Report prepared for United States Air Force Project Rand

  • Sahin F, Robinson EP (2005) Information sharing in make-to-order supply chains. J Oper Manag 23:579–598

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt RC (1997) Managing Delphi surveys using nonparametric statistical techniques. Decision Sci 28:763–774

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sherbrooke CC (1992) Optimal inventory modeling of systems: multi-echelon techniques. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Silver E (1981) Operations research in inventory management: a review and critique. Oper Res 29:628–645

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Story V, Hurdley L, Smith G, Saker J (2001) Methodological and practical implications of the Delphi technique in marketing decision-making: a re-assessment. Market Rev 1:487–504

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Syntetos AA, Boylan JE, Croston JD (2005) On the categorization of demand patterns. J Oper Res Soc 56:495–503

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thonemann U, Brown A, Hausman W (2002) Easy quantification of improved spare parts inventory policies. Manage Sci 48:1213–1225

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vigoroso MW (2005) Maximizing profitability with optimized service parts planning. Aberdeen Group, Boston, MA

    Google Scholar 

  • Wagner HM (2002) And then there were none. Oper Res 50:217

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Willemain TR, Smart CN, Schwarz HF (2004) A new approach to forecasting intermittent demand for service parts inventories. Int J Forecasting 20:375–387

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao X, Xie J, Zhang W (2002) The impact of information sharing and order coordination on supply chain management performance. Suppl Chain Manage Rev 7:24–40

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Aviation and Supply Chain Management, Auburn University, Lowder Business Building, Suite 403, Auburn, AL, 36849–5247, USA

    Christopher A. Boone & Joe B. Hanna

  2. Department of Supply Chain & Information Systems, Smeal College of Business, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA

    Christopher W. Craighead

Authors
  1. Christopher A. Boone
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Christopher W. Craighead
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Joe B. Hanna
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Christopher W. Craighead.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Boone, C.A., Craighead, C.W. & Hanna, J.B. Critical challenges of inventory management in service parts supply: A Delphi study. Oper Manag Res 1, 31–39 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12063-008-0002-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12063-008-0002-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation