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Spare Parts Inventory
Van stock
Spare parts inventory is the stock of components held for repairs — in a warehouse, in a technician's vehicle, or both — together with the record of what is consumed on each job.
Definition
In field service the important stock is often van stock, because a part in the warehouse does not help a technician standing in front of a broken machine. Recording consumption on the work order keeps van and warehouse levels accurate.
Why it matters
Parts availability is one of the biggest determinants of first-time fix rate. Too little stock causes return visits; too much ties up cash in vans — accurate consumption data is what lets you balance the two.
Related terms
See it working in Avchare
Avchare puts these concepts into a single field service platform — work orders, dispatch, SLA tracking and reporting.