Supply chain disruptions continue for independent repair shops

Oct. 6, 2021
IMR Inc. has released its latest insights on the effects of supply chain disruption on independent shops.

 IMR Inc., the industry’s leading full-service automotive market research firm, has released its latest insights on the effects of supply chain disruptions on independent automotive repair shops. 

In August 2021, IMR Inc. interviewed 500 independent automotive repair shops, nationally representative by location in the U.S., to get insights on whether supply chain disruptions were affecting their business and customers.

APA's Steve Tucker talks supply chain disruption and more. Watch now:

Since the start of the pandemic, 100% of shops reported that it is taking them longer to complete vehicle service and repairs, while 50% of shops state they are ‘frequently’ having disruptions in getting the parts they need to service vehicles, another 34.3% of shops say the are ‘occasionally’ having disruption in getting the parts they need. 

When asked about the most common reasons for an increase in time it is taking to complete vehicle repairs and service, shops reported delays in parts deliveries (45.7%), parts distributors being short on drivers (41.4%), a shortage of technicians/unavailable for work (25.0%), and difficulty in finding qualified technicians (14.3%).

Location was also shown to be a factor that contributed to the increased delays in vehicle service and repair turnaround time. Rural shops reported less issues with delays in parts deliveries (36.2%), but cite a greater issue with a shortage of technicians (29.3%). Urban and suburban shops report having fewer issues with parts delivery delays at 22.2% and 21.6%, respectively. Urban shops have been the most affected by distributors being short on drivers at 51.1% compared to suburban (37.0%) and rural shops (37.0%).

Even though shops are still experiencing delays in receiving parts on time, 87.8% of independent repair shops still report “rarely” or “never” purchasing from suppliers that are new or different than their regular/primary suppliers. As noted in a prior Insight on ecommerce purchasing published in August 2021, shops’ use of publicly available ecommerce websites to source parts has declined since the height of the pandemic in 2020. The most recent Insights from IMR Inc. can be found here.

Sponsored Recommendations

Learn how electronic parking brake actuators have replaced manual systems and now play a key role in advanced safety features like automatic emergency braking. This WIYB Training...
Not all fuel injectors are created equal. In this WIYB Training Series, we compare Standard® Fuel Injectors against OE, low-cost imports. See why precision engineering and rigorous...
Carrying active OEM subscriptions for all manufacturers is not possible for many shops. However, access to this software is required for certain modern vehicles and repairs, and...
Learn how to properly lubricate your AIRCAT air tools to keep them running at peak performance. Discover essential daily maintenance and storage techniques, along with the right...

Voice Your Opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Vehicle Service Pros, create an account today!