An integrative action research (IAR) on pioneering inventory management for an automotive retail and service shop

• Main Author: Caringal, Maereen S.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2021
• Subjects: Automobile supplies industry—Inventory control; Automobiles—Maintenance and repair—Equipment and supplies—Inventory control; Family-owned business enterprises—Inventory control; Inventory control; Operations and Supply Chain Management
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etdm_manorg/55
• Institution: De La Salle University

The purpose of this action research was to address the lack of inventory management and control of Caringal Motor Parts and Services, a family-owned automotive retail and service shop. Through the co-inquiry and root-cause analysis, my collaborators and I identified the array of issues composed of the non-existence of product database and inventory tracking process, manual tracking through pen and paper, lack of staff, and limited storage space. After ranking the issues through the prioritization matrix, we agreed to resolve first the non-existence of our product database and inventory tracking process. The 5S principle guided us in organizing our stocks and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to establish the inventory management process through a collaborative system. Our team also applied the ADKAR change management framework as we went through the action research cycle. In the first cycle, we focused on the series of 5S-related activities, inventory count, and system setup and design as the initial step in establishing the inventory management process. Through these interventions, we utilized AirTable, a low-code platform software that satisfied our operational needs. For the second cycle, we opted to determine the perception and attitude of the users towards the system before we fully integrate it into our daily work activities and to further assess the features of the system. My collaborators responded to the TAM questionnaire and simulated inventory-related transactions through the use cases. We initiated the inventory management process through continuous collaboration and understanding of family dynamics to improve and sustain our organization.