LPOs

[PartsDanager]

We have a new sales manager that LOOOVVESSS LPOs but man, 1% for the work we do to keep these things ready is not worth it.

Currently our system is to create an SOR card with a LPO priority and relieve them as the PDIs are written up. It's just a lot of work to stock them in, shelve them, find them for the tech, and make sure that old LPOs haven't been dealer traded or something.

What kinds of systems do you guys have in place to make this easier? Has anyone been able to find a way to get some sort of compensation that is fair to all departments?

[Denise Trimble]

We check them in and store them according to VIN.
We make 2 copies of the LPO invoice/packing slip (whichever your ADI identifies it)
-We keep the original in our SOR file, with the other Special Ordered Parts, under "T" for our dealership name
-Give one copy to the Sales Mgr./Owner, because he is pretty good about making sure the parts get put inside the vehicles when they get here; if they'll fit!
-Give one copy to the Service Dept. so they know what to expect once they do the PDI, and can schedule their technicians accordingly.

Thankfully, it goes pretty smooth here. We are a small dealer, so not too terrible. The only time a unit has gone out without a LPO, was when a vehicle we got in on a dealer trade, didn't have the running boards from their ADI, but (our) Sales Dept. promised to dealer trade the unit back out too fast. We just had the ADI send the boards to the 3rd dealer.

[AlanHomes]

ADI truck shows up with LPO's
Checked in according to their packing lists
Shelved in their own very special place upstairs, shelves are marked 0-1 2-3 etc. If the last digit of the VIN is a zero, it goes on the 0-1 shelf. Exceptions are those dammed side steps, they go against the wall and we pull the orange tag and replace it so it faces outward.
An e-mail goes out to recipients on a group LPO list: Service writers, sales managers, myself and everyone in parts.
Example of the e-mail: LPO's have arrived for the following
LF123456 floor mats, steps, foglamps
MF678901 trailer ball, exhaust extension, molding package
It's up to the writer to look at the build sheet when creating a PDI repair order

I have suggested and fought this for years. When the vehicle goes to cleanup, someone should look at the build sheet.
When the vehicle is sold/traded/DX'd whomever is delivering the vehicle should look at the build sheet, it shows steps, why are the steps not installed? Where are the floor mats? etc
The majority of problems are due to the last person to touch the vehicle is too lazy to verify all options are installed.

[BRIAN8474]

All LPO's are dropped at our recon center where all new vehicle PDI's are done. service has a forklift and a place to store them. Parts does not touch the LPO's at all as there is nothing in it for the parts department. all handling charges (what little there is) that gm pays goes to the service department. When service cant find a missing LPO for a vehicle that shows as being delivered, the parts department orders a replacement from the ADI and bills it to service policy. The parts department used to handle LPO's but if you really think about it the simple fact of installing LPO's on new units cuts into parts department gross potential because you are not able to sell what's already on the vehicle. so one way to look at it (as I did) is I'm losing gross so my department isn't going to absorb the personnel cost of keeping track of the crap.