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Auto detailing: Purchase the right quantity

Start with usable yield, round purchases to packs and plan replenishment.

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Auto detailing / detail package economics
Purchase the right quantity

Start with usable yield, round purchases to packs and plan replenishment. Start with repair orders, parts invoices and technician time logs. Each example below uses hypothetical values you can replace.

Step 01

Usable Material Cost

Account for cutting waste or unusable stock before pricing delivery.

Cost per usable unit = purchase cost / (purchased units × usable share)

Show example inputs and result
Purchased material cost1,000
Purchased units100
Usable share90 %

Result: 11.1111 per usable unit.

Yield must be greater than zero. Keep purchased and usable quantities in the same measurement unit.

Open usable material cost

Worked example · Input checks

Step 02

Material Order in Whole Packs

Round a material requirement to actual purchasable packs.

Packs = ceiling(net quantity × (1 + waste) / pack quantity)

Show example inputs and result
Net quantity needed86
Waste allowance10 %
Units per supplier pack12

Result: 8 packs.

Apply waste before rounding. The allowance adds to net need; it is not a percentage loss from purchased quantity.

Open material order in whole packs

Worked example · Input checks

Step 03

Inventory Reorder Point

Estimate a replenishment trigger from entered usage and lead time.

Reorder point = daily usage × lead time + safety stock

Show example inputs and result
Average daily item usage8
Supplier lead time7 days
Safety stock20 items

Result: 76 items.

The trigger says when to reorder. Purchase quantity also depends on supplier minimums, stock space, and demand variability.

Open inventory reorder point

Worked example · Input checks

Step 04

Economic Order Quantity

Balance order frequency and stock holding under steady demand.

EOQ = square root(2 × annual demand × ordering cost / annual unit holding cost)

Show example inputs and result
Annual unit demand1,200
Cost to place one order40
Annual holding cost per unit6

Result: 126.4911 units per order.

Assumes constant demand and lead time, no quantity discounts and no stockouts. Round to supplier pack sizes separately.

Open economic order quantity

Worked example · Input checks

Step 05

Inventory Turnover

Measure how many inventory equivalents were consumed during a period.

Turnover = period cost of goods / average inventory

Show example inputs and result
Cost of goods used or sold in period120,000
Average inventory at cost20,000

Result: 6 turns per period.

Comparing revenue with inventory cost mixes measurement bases and inflates the apparent turnover.

Open inventory turnover

Worked example · Input checks

Step 06

Supplier Switching Savings

Compare recurring savings from an alternative supplier.

Monthly savings = volume × (old unit cost − new unit cost) − extra recurring cost

Show example inputs and result
Monthly purchased units200
Current cost per unit20
Alternative cost per unit18
Extra monthly shipping or service cost100
One-time switching cost500

Result: 300 per month. Setup cost to recover separately: 500

Shipping, defects, delays, and switching work can offset a lower purchase price. Enter known additional costs.

Open supplier switching savings

Worked example · Input checks

Use the results in your plan

For a auto detailing business, review consumables, technician hours, and bay occupancy across the complete workflow. Use one consistent period and delivery unit: a detail package. Compare the assumptions with recorded outcomes after delivery, then update the estimate.

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