Methods to Accelerate Parts Sourcing in A Multibrand Workshop: Cross-Referencing, Alternative Suppliers, Return-Risk Management, Transparent Timelines, and Costs

Abstract: Independent multibrand workshops operate under intense time pressure and depend heavily on external suppliers for spare parts. When parts sourcing is slow or opaque, workshop capacity is blocked, repair lead times increase, and customer trust erodes. This article examines how parts sourcing can be accelerated by combining four operational levers at the workshop level: systematic cross-referencing of part numbers, structured use of alternative suppliers, explicit return-risk management, and transparent communication of timelines and costs to customers. The study adopts a conceptual-empirical approach. It synthesises findings from fifteen peer-reviewed studies on automotive spare parts logistics, inventory control, demand forecasting, and aftermarket structures. Then it develops an illustrative scenario for a hypothetical multibrand workshop. The scenario contrasts a baseline single-supplier sourcing pattern with a framework-based approach that uses cross-referenced alternatives, a supplier portfolio, and recorded return-risk indicators as decision inputs. Using performance ranges reported in existing empirical research, the article demonstrates how expected sourcing lead times, direct parts costs, and return-related losses may change when the framework is implemented for fast-, medium-, and slow-moving parts. The analysis suggests that the proposed approach can reduce sourcing lead times for medium-moving items, stabilise service performance for slow-moving, high-criticality parts, and improve the overall balance between cost and quality without requiring large local stocks or complex optimisation tools. The article concludes with managerial recommendations for independent workshops and outlines directions for future field-based research.