Service Warranty Administrator Job Description

The Warranty Administrator of a Factory

If worker labor is involved in replacing a part that is faulty, it is usually sent back to the manufacturer for monetary credit. Each manufacturer inspects the returned parts and distributes credit to the facility, parts are usually credited at cost and labor hours are paid based on the individual manufacturer's specifications. The repair process is profitable and fair if inventory levels are counted correctly.

The form that the warranty administrator must prepare to submit the claim is usually a standardized one with the part number and description. The administrator must verify that the hours claimed are correct. If the labor hours are excessive for the particular repair job, many manufacturers will not consider a claim.

The warranty administrator must return failed parts to the manufacturer. The parts must be attached to the claim form for rapid processing, and lost parts or claims can require research by both the manufacturer and administrator, which can cost time and money. The administrator of the warranty should claim the parts through a shipping company that can provide proof delivery.

The accounting department may not see the monetary credit from the manufacturer for a number of weeks. The warranty administrator should have a process for documenting claims. Workers can confer with accounting if claims are being held or have been lost, and any issues can be resolved in a timely manner to ensure a fast payment process.

An administrator is usually in charge of a number of other workers at larger repair facilities. The warranty duties will be divided between the employees to make sure they are paid quickly. The main administrator may simply supervise the workers and respond to any issues that arise.

The Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanicians Who Servicing Most Warranty Repair Applications

Without warranty administrators, replacement parts for automobiles, electric appliances, and computers wouldn't be received in a timely manner. Most warranty administrators work for manufacturers, dealers or distributors. Depending on experience, the employer for which they work and geographical location, their salaries can vary.

A warranty administrator reviews claims for equipment and determines which ones are covered by a warranty. They enter the items into computers and submit requests for fulfillment and maintain databases of customers and warranty parts. Customers may be called to get additional information warranty requests.

The main responsibilities include coordinating the ordering and shipping of all parts, collecting payments for partial warranties and training employees in the warranty department. Most warranty administrators work during regular business hours, but some may work evenings and weekends. They spend a lot of time on the phone or computer.

Warranty administrators may work in stressed environments because of the volume of warrant applications. They may be prone to falls and injuries while helping clerks fill orders as some replacement parts are heavy. The average salary of a warranty administrator was $46,000 in the year of 2014, according to Indeed.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics says production, planning and expediting clerks earned $46,290 in May of this year. Material recording clerks are those who track shipments of products at dealerships and manufacturing plants. The highest paid warranty administrators were in Washington, D.C.

The Role of Warrants in Providing Super Service to OnPoint

The elements above are considered when developing warranty plans, along with the age of the product, the severity of repairs, and the frequency of repairs. The rate at which a product fails is called Frequency, while the cost to fix the product is called Severity. The amount of money the obligor expects to spend honoring the contract is Frequency X severity.

The actuaries of great warranty company are able to use market research and claims history to estimate loss costs and make sure warranty plans are priced correctly and can cover expected losses. The need to service a product dictates that a warranty company such as a manufacturer or service contract administrator recruit,credential, onboard, contract with and manage a service network. Some warranty companies hire their own workforces and others contract with third party service providers.

Some use both. A well managed warranty company service network is similar to the one for warranties. Solid process, clear expectations, great support and cutting edge technology are critical to providing a super service experiences to every consumer.

The scope of products on which service must be delivered can be different among warranty companies. Extending warranty companies and service contract administrators cover a wide range of products and brands, from appliances to electronics, computer equipment, mobile products to the home systems like plumbing, electrical and foundations. The cost of service and time to deliver service varies greatly, as the recruiting requirements are more complex, the licensing and credentialing requirements differ, and the cost of service is more complex.

A limited product and brand set is what manufacturers tend to deal with. The more complex nature of the businesses that warranty companies like extended warranties and service contracts administrators are involved in makes them need to use all of the tools mentioned above. The best service levels to consumers can be delivered by experienced warranty companies that understand the need to meet consumers where they are, on the web, in the call center and in social media.

Customer Service Administrators

Customer service administrators receive orders via phone, email, or post and respond to them accordingly. It is important that orders are processed on time and that customers know when they will receive their order. Some employers may require a college degree as well as a high school diploma, but the minimum requirement to become a customer service administrator is a GED.

Familiarity with basic office software is a good thing, as is previous experience in a customer service role. Customer service administrators usually learn the majority of their skills on the job. Customer service administrators make a median annual salary of $43,000.

A Physician's Advice

We have seen it many times. A dealer will hire someone off the street because they are cheap and can do warranty. They usually don't last long.

In the administrator position, one must be able to analyze the claim and examine it for the proper sequence of events to make sure that all items are present before closing the repair out. The administrator will teach the service staff what to do. A fair-minded administrator will not be seen as an asset to the dealership if they don't respect technicians and advisors.

They will be a liability because of the tension they create. Having a seasoned doctor is what a properly trained administrator is like. If they know their craft and have experience drawing from that, you can save a lot of headaches during an audit.

The Role of Service Parts Management in a Fortune 500 Company

Companies have traditionally viewed warranty management as a cost of doing business. The costs of warranty management were found to be costing between 4 to 5 percent of the company's total sales revenue each year and were considered to be the cost of providing customer satisfaction and an opportunity to build a relationship. Service Parts Management Stream is the main function of Warranty Management.

The entire business unit is a profit center with its revenue and cost budget, and the service parts managers are the heads of their department. Service Parts Management Teams and structure are the service support delivery owners and are the primary contact points with the customer. Customer desk is the first point of contact for customers to register a service request.

The technicians and engineers are at the front end site. Parts support managers take responsibility for closing calls and delivery performance. The team manages reverse logistics functions that include parts collection, parts segregation, inventory holding of defects, parts repair, warranty replacement, and waste disposal or scrapping.