# Breaking Down Barriers: How Dealer Education and Data Drive Parts Department Success Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-partsedge-podcast-7051339/breaking-down-barriers-how-dealer-education-and-data-drive-parts-department-success Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-partsedge-podcast-7051339/breaking-down-barriers-how-dealer-education-and-data-drive-parts-department-success.md Podcast: [The PartsEdge Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-partsedge-podcast-7051339) Published: 2026-03-13T13:00:00+00:00 Episode link: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thepartsedgepodcast/episodes/Breaking-Down-Barriers-How-Dealer-Education-and-Data-Drive-Parts-Department-Success-e3g90gg Audio file: https://anchor.fm/s/929b2444/podcast/play/116735952/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2026-2-11%2F419762924-44100-2-f2c2d8f5aa545.m4a Processing state: not_requested JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-partsedge-podcast-7051339/episodes/breaking-down-barriers-how-dealer-education-and-data-drive-parts-department-success Duration seconds: 2237 ## Resource This week, Kaylee sits down with Mark Michalski, seasoned NADA Academy instructor and dealership veteran, for a no-nonsense conversation about what it really takes to thrive in today’s parts departments. Mark Michalski shares eye-opening stories from decades on the ground in dealerships across the country—digging into the challenges, opportunities, and big changes happening in auto parts management. From the realities of walking into a new department with inherited processes, to actionable advice on fill rates, training, and the future of dealership ops, you’ll walk away with real-world strategies you can use now. Whether you’re a seasoned parts manager or just stepping into the role, this episode delivers hard-earned wisdom—plus a look ahead at technology, AI, and why parts departments deserve a seat at the table. Don’t miss Mark Michalski's take on empowering employees, modernizing inventory practices, and building a network of support that drives dealership success. ------------------------------------------- This show is powered by PartsEdge : Your go-to solution for transforming dealership parts inventory into a powerhouse of profitability. Our strategies are proven to amp up parts sales by a whopping 20%, all while cutting down on idle inventory. If you're looking to optimize your parts management, visit 🔗 www.partsedge.com ------------------------------------------- Takeaways Training and Empowerment Matter Data-Driven Inventory Wins Community and Collaboration Are Game-Changers Chapters 00:00 Automotive Dealer Training Programs 04:20 "Parts Manager Training Challenges" 09:00 Optimizing Parts Department Operations 10:52 "Building Connections for Success" 14:46 Optimizing Sales Through Data Insights 17:33 "Challenges in Parts Management&q… ## Actions - request_transcript: `POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-partsedge-podcast-7051339/episodes/breaking-down-barriers-how-dealer-education-and-data-drive-parts-department-success/transcription-requests` — Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode. - read_markdown: `GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-partsedge-podcast-7051339/breaking-down-barriers-how-dealer-education-and-data-drive-parts-department-success.md` — Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource. A page view does not enqueue transcription. Agents should invoke `request_transcript` explicitly when they need this episode processed. ## Transcript Full transcripts are not published on public pages unless there is a clear rights basis.