Parts Responsibility

[blackcat4866]

I'm just looking for opinions on this topic:

A copier dealer in our area has initiated a new policy, making their techs financially responsible for any shortfalls of car inventory. The rumor is that it was not well received. I personally have never heard of such a policy before today, and have serious questions about it's legality.

What do you think? =^..^=

[SwisSeV]

Re: Parts Responsibility

I imagine they had problems with techs stealing parts in the past.
As far as I understand it would be legal as long as you are not bumped under minimum wage for any period of time.

I'm really glad I don't have to deal with that.

[audyplongo]

Re: Parts Responsibility

yeah its legal i have a friend that works for a company that holds the techs responsible for the inventory in there car and they have to do daily logs of the inventory luckily the company i work does not do that!

[jonhiker]

Re: Parts Responsibility

I think that is pretty bogus. We have so much trouble with the computer and inventory system, every tech has issues. That would be a good incentive to either quit or make sure every feed tire is accounted for.

[NeoMatrix]

Re: Parts Responsibility

The vehicle inventory/parts/consumables and the catalogue of that inventory should be the techs responsibility in the end case.
If Techs are lazy and don't lock the vehicle when on the job, or they are slipping parts under the table to friends machines,ie. theft, then there certainly is a call for accountability.

On the other hand, I've had the odd occasion where I have been allocated parts from inventory only to find the part has been damaged or used previous and placed back into stock.
Ie. fuser rollers,thermistors, lamps, damage PCB etc. Where does the accountability end when those questionable parts have be genuinely allocated to a Techs vehicle supplies ?

Eg. A Tech arrives on the customers job only to find the parts are pre-used or damaged. Does the boss then make those Techs accountable for the previously used or damaged parts ?

It could certainly lead to a moral balancing act an unnecessary tension in the work place ...

[JR2ALTA]

Re: Parts Responsibility

In my company there are too many hands in the pot to hold the tech solely responsible. There are admins and dispatchers who have control over parts transfers, restock, etc.

If that was my company I'd demand they count my car stock every day during work hours or paid overtime.

[roho]

Re: Parts Responsibility

How does one determine where the error is exactly? I've seen so many errors made on the system before the tech ever received the part in my experience. Short sighted managers, while trying to solve one problem with a torch, they cause more problems and inefficiency, having your employees working under such conditions surely effects motivation, see it often. Sounds like a lazy approach to a complex problem, typical management in this industry. How about making managers pay for cheap and poor decisions that cost accounts?

Our "new" manager here must be getting a parts budget bonus. No real service background, but he's constantly second guessing about part orders and cost. We'll only replace what needs to be replaced, never mind the return trips back to the same customer for another drum for example a week later, mileage and parking included, not too mention leanly stocked shelves in the shop, all of this affects the customer, they tend to notice as well. I bet any worth while tech will be looking to move elsewhere, something else many of these managers don't appreciate.

[SwisSeV]

Re: Parts Responsibility

How many of you have a smart inventory system?

Here we order what we need and don't keep track of things as well as we should. Stuff accumulates and the shelf's in the back are packed with old parts we will never use at this point. If there was a part back there I could use, I don't even bother to look because it's a waste of time.

If we had a smart inventory that wouldn't be a problem. I'm thinking like a scan in inventory type solution that is searchable. Anyone here do it that way, or are you more like us?

I think with a good inventory system it would be easy to keep track of parts and the people responsible for them.

[Lance15]

Re: Parts Responsibility

All of us where I work also keep stock in our cars. Each of us are responsible for keeping track, restocking, etc. of parts. We are not, however, responsible if something is missing. We do use inFlow as our parts inventory management solution. Problem there is, too many hands in the pot. Tech's not careful in what they're doing. Not following procedures when orders are placed. I'm the senior tech at our company and as such, end up being responsible for making sure the inventory is put in correctly. I also perform bi-yearly inventory counting of parts at the shop. We each count our own car inventory. I get the counts and correct inFlow as needed.

[fixthecopier]

Re: Parts Responsibility

That wouldn't work for me. Inventory has been such a mess at my company over the years, I refuse to cary truck stock. Everything in my truck is mine or used parts. Since my management won't change, I will waste the time to drive back for parts. Mind you, I will take what I think I need, but turn in what I don't use. Stuff shows up signed out to the wrong techs.

As big a nightmare as inventory is, they should give a bonus when you zero out.

[KenB]

Re: Parts Responsibility

I couldn't work for a company like that. I would beat feet outta there in a heartbeat.

Such a policy screams distrust. That makes for a really bad work environment.

Just as most of us have commented, most (if not all) inventory systems are so far off that it's comical.

[blackcat4866]

Re: Parts Responsibility

I couldn't work for a company like that. I would beat feet outta there in a heartbeat.

Such a policy screams distrust. That makes for a really bad work environment.

Just as most of us have commented, most (if not all) inventory systems are so far off that it's comical.

I couldn't agree more. And it gets less comical each day. =^..^=

[subaro]

Re: Parts Responsibility

Large companys has to control and feedbacks on how they spend and utilize parts, it's just plain management and accountability in a business. A good parts inventory system can do a good job in tracking the use and location and persons with those parts in hand. I think it makes sense too.
However the human inputs and manipulation are bound to have some measure of errors. A company has to be reasonable also in taking that into account and charging techs for missing carstock would be same as mistrusting that tech and would have a negative effect and it should not be implemented IMO.
Also, computers just do the math and at the end of the period that reports are run, any significant discrepancy in parts not accounted for has to be questioned. It is just good business for a company to track its expenses.

[JrTech]

Re: Parts Responsibility

Oh this is so controversial. I am 100% all for The Tech is responsible for parts. You leave my office with a part it is accounted for until it in on an invoice. If your are too lazy to take the time to write that part number down, and then I have to waste my time to find that $6.00 part yes that is coming down on the tech. I am not saying that a tech will lose his/her job over this but keep doing it and he/she gets no car stock. When it comes to tray, feed rollers, I want you to have an overstock that has already been accounted for. Example I go to a machine and need 1 set of feed rollers, I will order 2 sets, on my work order it shows 2 sets ordered, 2 sets used. One set goes into my stock for future use, until I have 2 to 4 sets in my "personal" stock if we have a few of these machines in the field. Rollers come in handy for many things. Sometimes a call may be only roller issues or looking at another machine while I am there. HP maint kits come with 6 feed roller and customer only needs 2, I am putting those in my inventory. I have to answer to my accountant as to why I am losing money in parts and I dislike having to think about a part from 9 months ago. I am very relaxed on parts but the paper trail must exist or you will spend 10x amount of time trying to find out who, what, when, where and why that part was ordered and other things are uncovered, feelings get hurt. Not fun. If the tech continues to come up with shortages of high ticket items. its time for he/she to hit the road.
Bottom line is start early with a good system in filling out the work orders COMPLETELY, he/she relies on HR to put in the correct information for them to get paid every 2 weeks. Think about when the checks are late getting in, how pissed everyone is. Treat your work orders the same. Treat the techs correctly (dont assume all they know is how to turn a screwdriver), LISTEN TO THEM, Thank them regularly, if deserved. Take care of the techs and they will take care of you. The On Site Techs are the person your client is going to see more than anyone in your office. Sale Rep will be around when lease is up, Service Manager only if there is an issue or is requested. If the techs are pissed and it shows, then your clients are affected as well.
If you come down hard on them for thier mistake and they cry, well that sucks, go home put your big boys pants on, take responsibility for your actions. All of who are writing and complaining it is BS to hold tech accountable, let me recommend a few techs to come work for the company YOU OWN. At the end of the year when you are writing off thousands dollars and having to explain to little Johnny why there are no raises this year. Break out that personal check book and write him a check. In 1 year come back here and post on this thread how much you had to claim as a loss for "missing parts"


Hope this helps

[Santander]

Re: Parts Responsibility

As far as financial responsibility for parts some dealerships have had this policy for 20+ years. As for legality, absolutely legal. But I would wonder about their stock control and service reporting to go to that extreme, they must have had a serious shortage problem across their whole organization. We quarterly inventory car stock and shortages up to a few hundred dollars are just written off as we all forget to write down a feed roller or other part from time to time. When it starts adding up to thousands we take a closer look. A number of years ago we hired a tech and only a couple of months into his tenure, he was on a call that needed a part we did not have in stock. The next day he shows up in the office not only with the part needed, but thousands of dollars of other parts for that model. When we questioned him on where he got all these parts he nonchalantly stated they were from PM's not fully completed or requested parts that he found he did not need and just put them in his garage! Needless to say he did not last long with us and we contacted his former employer and returned the parts to them at our expense. In this case it seems they have used the sledge hammer to swat the fly.