Stop Obsolete Parts Inventory Growth Once and For All!

“A parts manager who only focuses on clearing existing obsolescence—rather than preventing future obsolescence—will find themselves drowning in an endless battle.”

The Two Fishermen and the Leaking Boats

On a quiet morning by the shore, two fishermen, Fisherman One and Fisherman Two, set out to sea, eager to fill their nets with the day’s catch. The sky was clear, the water calm—but trouble lurked beneath their boats.

Before long, both men realized water was seeping in. Fisherman Two, seeing the rising water, grabbed his bucket and frantically started bailing. He focused solely on removing the water, scooping and tossing, his arms working tirelessly against the flood.

Fisherman One, too, grabbed his bucket and bailed, but every few minutes, he stopped to inspect his boat. He traced the source of the leaks—tiny cracks in the wooden hull. With steady hands, he patched the gaps, securing the boards, then resumed bailing until no more water remained.

Fisherman Two, meanwhile, kept bailing furiously. His muscles ached, his breath grew ragged, and his boat continued to take on water faster than he could remove it. Exhausted and defeated, his vessel eventually sank beneath the waves.

Fisherman One, however, finished his repairs, emptied his boat, and calmly cast his net, focusing once more on his true purpose—fishing. That evening, Fisherman One returned to shore with a bounty of fish, while Fisherman Two swam back with nothing but a lesson learned too late.

The Parts Manager’s Dilemma

Like Fisherman Two, a parts manager who only focuses on clearing existing obsolescence—rather than preventing future obsolescence—will find themselves drowning in an endless battle. Every day, new outdated parts pour in, adding to the backlog, just as Fisherman Two’s boat kept flooding. No matter how much effort is spent addressing what’s already obsolete, if the source of the leakage isn’t fixed, the burden will eventually become overwhelming.

But the wise manager, like Fisherman One, recognizes the importance of both bailing and fixing the leaks. By addressing the root cause—preventing unnecessary stock accumulation—they gain control of the situation and free themselves to focus on growth, efficiency, and the true goal of their work, just as Fisherman One returned his focus to fishing.

The choice is clear: spend every waking moment battling a never-ending flood, or take the time to fix what’s broken and set sail toward success.

We Can Help!

ADMI360 implements the insights and processes to identify and stop obsolescence growth once and for all.

To learn more, visit the ADMI360 website at www.admiglobal.com/admi-360, download program info, or schedule a time to meet with us to discuss and for a demo.

By Jay Graham