Paul D’Adamo “the Recall Guy”, based in the US, discusses what vehicle recyclers should consider when it comes to packing core to ensure it doesn’t get damaged or mixed up with scrap or already damaged parts.
Life Lesson
My wife and I recently moved from Massachusetts to New Hampshire. After 34 years in the same house, you accumulate a wealth of personal belongings. Priority #1 was to eliminate non-essentials so as not to bog down the moving process. Priority #2 was to ensure that the good stuff gets there in one piece. Hence the phrase “Don’t pack the Waterford Crystal under the Pots & Pans.” If you value something, you must afford it enough TLC through handling, placement, and packaging, or it will be ruined.
Cores are Merchandise . . .Not Junk
The same concept can be applied to Cores. I helped create multiple videos for one of our national accounts to highlight the damage done when cores are packed in a haphazard manner. Customers are rightfully upset when their checks do not match what was invoiced. Recyclers, please don’t take offense, but many of you put cores in the same category as scrap; therefore, your employees treat cores as junk and damage parts when packing the core box. You might want to review your core packing process to ensure more parts arrive in the same condition they were pulled.
Core Companies are Customers Too
Recyclers across the US and Canada have stepped up their QC game when it comes to customer parts. Hmmm. Core Companies are Customers too! We can only sell “rebuildable cores” to our customers. It makes no sense to take the time to identify and pull cores, only to chuck them in the box with no regard to their fragility. Junk parts have no value to our Customers.
Recommendations
- Recognize the function of Core Removal by assigning a title to this task, i.e., Core Tech or Auto Core Specialist, so the person performing this job understands that the company places a value on cores.
- Give the Core Tech some training, including parts knowledge, Quality Control Standards, and the tools, space, and packaging materials to send the core box out correctly.
- Pack in Layers. Put Hard Cores (alternators, starters, a/c compressors, calipers, and gearboxes) at the bottom. Next, put Medium Duty Cores in the middle (Window/Wiper motors, Master Cylinders, Power Steering Pumps), and last, pack the Light Duty Cores at the top (Instrument Clusters, ECM’s, Climate Controls).
- Consider segregating Instrument Clusters and ECM type parts into separate boxes within the core box. A little bit of bubble wrap or brown paper wrapping could go a long way to protecting the product from damage.
Core Companies are Here to Help!
All Core Companies will gladly provide phone or live support to help you get better returns. Take advantage of this resource and maximize the labor you put into removing cores from your vehicles.
Cores can provide a constant revenue stream. Packing Quality Cores provides higher yields when the product is checked in. Let’s work together to increase revenue.
Questions on QC Counts? Contact Paul the “Recall Guy” at pdadamo@coresupply.com
