Warranty Parts Return Lead (Milwaukee, WI, US)

Job Summary

The Warranty Parts Return Lead is responsible for managing the end-to-end warranty parts return process to ensure timely recovery, evaluation, and disposition of defective components. This role drives compliance with warranty policies, supports root cause investigations, and collaborates with cross-functional teams to improve product quality, reduce warranty costs, and enhance customer satisfaction.

They are responsible for overseeing the collection, tracking, analysis, shipment, and disposition of warranty-returned parts while ensuring compliance with warranty policies and supporting quality improvement initiatives. The role often serves as the primary liaison between dealers, service teams, logistics providers, engineering, quality, and suppliers regarding returned warranty components.

Job Responsibilities

Warranty Parts Return Operations

• Manage daily warranty parts return activities and workflows.
• Ensure returned parts are received, inspected, documented, and processed according to company policy.
• Coordinate shipment and tracking of warranty-returned components from dealers, distributors, and service locations.

Quality and Failure Analysis Support

• Collaborate with Quality, Engineering, and Technical Service teams to support failure investigations.
• Review returned parts for trends, emerging issues, and recurring failures.
• Assist in identifying root causes and corrective actions.
• Support field quality and supplier recovery initiatives through returned-part analysis.

Dealer and Customer Support

• Provide guidance to dealers and service personnel regarding return procedures and documentation requirements.
• Resolve warranty return discrepancies and shipping issues.
• Support training and communication related to warranty return policies and system updates.

Logistics and Compliance

• Coordinate with carriers and logistics providers to ensure timely and cost-effective movement of parts.
• Ensure compliance with hazardous material, shipping, and regulatory requirements.
• Maintain accurate documentation and audit records.

Reporting and Continuous Improvement

• Prepare dashboards and reports on warranty return performance, trends, and recovery activities.
• Analyze data to identify process improvements and cost reduction opportunities.
• Lead initiatives to streamline warranty return processes and improve accuracy and efficiency.

Education Requirements

Education Specifications

Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Engineering, Quality, Automotive Technology, or related field preferred.

Experience Requirements

• 3-5+ years of experience in warranty administration, parts operations, quality, logistics, or automotive service.
• Experience with warranty claims systems (As400 and/or SAP)
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Power BI, and reporting tools.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage multiple priorities.

Key Competencies

• Leadership and team coordination
• Warranty policy knowledge
• Root cause analysis
• Data analytics and reporting
• Process improvement
• Dealer/customer relationship management
• Attention to detail and compliance