3 things we're talking about

Parts managers interested in improving their inventory turns and fill rates can pick up a new e-book published by PartsEdge for help. How To Identify Issues in Your Parts Inventory is designed to help parts managers identify and solve inventory issues. One tip is for managers to conduct regular reviews of the dealership management system to ensure settings are up to date; incorrect DMS settings will negatively impact fill rates and profits. "The easiest way to improve inventory turns is to bring up their fill rate," said Chuck Hartle, president of PartsEdge, a parts sourcing and management software provider. "Our e-book gives managers a formula for calculating inventory turns as well as for calculating fill rate percentage."

Last month, the employees of Van Horn Automotive Group became majority owners of the company in Plymouth, Wis. That's when the status of their employee stock ownership plan transitioned from 30 to 70 percent. Van Horn — which includes 19 dealerships, a finance company, a rental vehicle division and a wholesale financial products company — says it is the only employee-owned auto group in the state. It entered the plan in 2016 and employs more than 670 people throughout Wisconsin and Iowa. "Our employees are passionate, dynamic and innovative team players," says Van Horn President Jeff Niesen. "It only makes sense for our employees to have a greater stake in the continued success of this company."

Mike Smith Auto Group in Beaumont, Texas, a subsidiary of Group 1 Automotive, was named the inaugural winner of the Women in the Service Lane award for its efforts to hire and retain women in service adviser and service manager roles. At least half of the advisers and service managers at the group's six stores are women, greater than the 40 percent required to be eligible for the award. Roger Conant, who founded the award, began the program last year after learning only 20 percent of dealership service advisers and 6 percent of service managers were women. "We chose the service center because it is the point of repeated contact for customers once they purchase a vehicle," he said. Edward McKissic, senior vice president at Group 1, said the award is "a tangible example of the diversity and inclusion Group 1 prioritizes in the workplace."