Original One Parts’ Wade Hilburn talks expansion, company offerings and parts procurement challenges
Nothing beats the original, according to Original One Parts, which provides certified reconditioned OEM parts for the aftermarket. Wade Hilburn, president and CEO, talks with us about how Original One Parts is branching out in the market, what sets their product apart in the industry and some current challenges in parts procurement.
Original One Parts is expanding into the mechanical service market. Why are you entering the mechanical market at this time?
We have always offered products for this market, but we see an even greater opportunity in the mechanical service market with the explosion of the used car market, and the fact that people are keeping their vehicles longer and the importance of maintaining those vehicles. Another factor is that after 2020, people are looking for alternative sources for parts, inside the US, avoiding supply chain delays and tariff issues.
What type of parts do you offer for the mechanical service market?
We offer items such as engine cradles, control arms, rear cross members, everything from suspension, electrical, headlights and more. We have primarily been focused on the collision repair market to date, but we have lots of parts to offer the mechanical repair market.
Original One Parts provides customers with a reconditioned OEM part. Can you help our readers understand the difference between an Original One Part and a remanufactured or aftermarket part?
Certainly. An aftermarket part is a reverse engineered facsimile or replica of the Original OEM part. It is manufactured to alternate specifications, and many of which have little or no testing, and the durability may or may not be there.
A remanufactured part has been modified in some way from the original OE configuration. Either part of it has been repaired, or the part may have been disassembled and one or more components replaced and then reassembled.
An Original One part was produced by the OE manufacturer, it has been VIN-verified to be the right part, it has been taken through a rigorous certification process to confirm it performs as it did on day one, and then it is cleaned and finished to look as good as if not better than the day it was brand new.
What do you see as one of the challenges facing the underhood technician and parts managers when it comes to parts procurement?
Technicians have enough challenges without having to deal with parts that don’t fit. Receiving parts that are not the exact fit for the vehicle that they are working on can be a frustrating waste of time for the technician and the parts manager. The technician cannot finish the job, the customer waits, and the parts manager must deal with returns. So getting an OE part, that is VIN-to-VIN verified before it ships, eliminates a lot of those headaches.
I always say that no one orders parts to keep on the shelf. When they order, they need the right part right away.
How has the pandemic impacted parts supply chain and what has it meant at the repairer level.
The pandemic certainly disrupted the supply chain for new OE parts as well as some aftermarket parts. This has impacted our business in a positive way, since our parts come from the existing stock of vehicles already on the road.
How have tariff issues and limited shipments from Asia impacted the market?
Often in situations like this, resellers are forced to switch suppliers, either due to availability or pricing. A technician may order the same part on two occasions, and it may even come in the same box, however each time it may be made by a different manufacturer. With Original One Parts you only get Original OE parts- same producer every time-the OE.
What other factors do you see effecting the parts market?
The used car market is booming, and prices for used cars have increased substantially. Combined with the fact that people are keeping their cars longer, the automobile is a valuable investment, and when something goes wrong the consumer wants to get it fixed and fixed for the long haul. And they want a reliable OE part that also fits their budget.
What is the one thing that you want parts procurement managers who read this to know about Original One Parts.
We guarantee that all our parts are certified original OEM parts, and we apply very stringent testing to ensure that when a parts manager orders from us, he receives a part in as good if not better condition than the original. We take great pride in that claim and stand behind it 100%. If there is one word that I would want them to associate with Original One Parts, it is reliable. They can have confidence that they are doing business with a reliable source for original OEM parts.
