Abstract: A vehicle part inventory management system is provided for filling at least part of the vehicle part orders by one vehicle dealer from the inventory of another vehicle dealer. The inventory management system includes an ordered parts data structure for storing ordered parts information; an inventory data structure for storing vehicle part inventory information for a plurality of vehicle dealers; and a dealer assessment module connected to the ordered parts data structure and the inventory data structure, such that the dealer assessment module receives at least one request to fill a vehicle part order and is able to determine a list of potential supplying dealers that have the ordered vehicle part. The inventory management system further includes a dealer interface module that receives the list of potential supplying dealers and is able communicate a request to supply the ordered vehicle part to at least one of the potential supplying dealers.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining a suggested vehicle part order for a vehicle retailer by a vehicle part inventory management system. The method includes the steps of: (a) receiving from the vehicle retailer at least one of a target fill rate and a target inventory investment; (b) accessing part demand forecast information for the vehicle retailer; (c) accessing part cost information; and (d) determining a suggested part order for the vehicle retailer based on the part demand forecast information and the part cost information in view of the target fill rate or the target inventory investment input by the vehicle retailer.