Core Management

[bimmer_bob]

I am a Parts and Service Director for a large dealer with a parts department that is in flux. (new Manager) Does anyone have a good system for handling cores on an ADP system? Not sure if inventory size matters but we are at $1.5 million. I'm looking for a process that will help me track my manufacturer returns and credits more accurately.

Thank you!!

[cville1987]

When I came here they were on ADP. ADP has core tracking but it wasn't turned on here and I got mixed reviews on this forum so I never turned it on. R&R has a good core tracking system, I would hate to not have it.

[FixedManager]

ADP's core program is not the best nor is it the worst, it's just not understood. I have worked with most DMS systems. ADP handles cores quite similar to R&R and like virtually every other DMS most input is manual. Cores are dead money and if they don't get returned the manufacturers still profit so no effort is made to address this issue.

My core tracking system encompasses all phases from the time it arrives, sale, Service department, storage, return handling, accounting, and damages. These are the highlights as it is too much to fit in this small box but I would be happy to talk to you offline, just message me.

Out of curiosity have you asked what your new Parts Managers process is? I can't imagine hiring someone for a facility of that size that wasn't experienced enough to know this most basic of Parts systems.

[DMagenheimer]

We have about 500K in inventory value. You can check your new core value in PHR, but as far as dirty cores, we track ours the old fashioned way. We have a designated area for our dirty cores, and have one person who writes them up every Monday and submits them to GM for return. We turned on our core tracking, however if you don't keep up with it, then it can quickly become a mess. Doing it the old fashion way has seem to work the best. Our warehouse manager has a spreadsheet that she tracks the cores on, just something simple however effective.

[SilyPartsGuy]

as far as dirty cores, we track ours the old fashioned way. We have a designated area for our dirty cores, and have one person who writes them up every Monday and submits them to GM for return. We turned on our core tracking, however if you don't keep up with it, then it can quickly become a mess. Doing it the old fashion way has seem to work the best.

This is the most efficient way I have found as well. My invetory is right at 1.8M, I have four designated areas for my cores in two opposite buildings on our lot. One for small cores, one for facias, racks and wheels, one for powertrain and one for my medium-heavy duty shop. I write everything except powertrain and warranty cores down and submit them every Monday am. I only submit my powertrain on the first of the month, warranty cores get worked into their respective area twice a week. Very easy to manage...

[Stevenspeaking]

What is the process you are using now? It may be better to tweak it to meet your needs without adding to your flux.

What I did as a Chrysler dealer on ADP w/o core tracking, was to add the Chrysler core part numbers to the system (they all started with a U or were created to start with U). Then gave the customers the core credit using the U part number. It provided tracking in PDA to show what cores and when credits were given to customers. It also had the value show up on all reports that were printed referring to inventory values without adding hand count sheets for monthly reports. When I sent cores back I would print a report for all cores that had a quantity. After submitting the return I would manually minus them off the system putting the return number in as a reference to be able to track the return to the manufacture. I put all the core pick up slips signed by the delivery driver into a three ring binder and marked off each core as I received credits on the parts statements. Any cores that aged past 45 days would start the chase to get the credit.

Steven