Examples

• Level 1 read manufacturers' recall notices which outline defects in parts.
• Level 2 read memos and bulletins from suppliers to get information on existing product lines and new products.
• Level 2 read installation instructions in parts' catalogues which outline cautions for the use of the parts described.
• Level 2 read procedures for returning parts to the warehouse for credit.
• Level 2 refer to outdated parts' catalogues to obtain information about parts for old vehicles or appliances.
• Level 3 read a variety of parts' manuals in order to compare specifications, purposes and costs of parts from different manufacturers.

Examples

• Level 1 read lists of parts and their numbers.
• Level 1 check packing slips for parts which have been shipped from suppliers.
• Level 2 read employee work schedules.
• Level 2 read shipping schedules identifying goods, quantities and destinations.
• Level 2 read Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) labels relating to parts.
• Level 2 may read tire warranty charts which provide refund information based on the amount of wear on the tire.
• Level 2 read a table that shows the number of various parts sold each month.
• Level 2 complete purchase order forms.
• Level 2 fill in rental forms to keep track of tools rented by the store.
• Level 2 enter customer details on computerized invoices.
• Level 3 read assembly drawings of parts to help diagnose a customer's needs.
• Level 3 read schematic drawings to identify components of electrical parts and the routing of electricity.

Examples

• Level 1 write notes to record details of telephone conversations with customers.
• Level 1 write lists of materials received and materials sold or rented, noting colour, product description and codes.
• Level 1 may write notes to workers on the next shift, informing them of orders which will be picked up and phone calls expected.
• Level 1 fill out purchase orders using standardized forms.
• Level 2 write letters to parts' suppliers to explain problems with parts received.
• Level 2 complete return forms to manufacturers, justifying the return of a part.
• Level 2 may write memos to mechanics or technicians to give them feedback on repairs.

Examples

• Level 1 may record costs in financial records, such as the amount spent on repairs in the last month.
• Level 1 may measure lengths of wiring sold by the foot.
• Level 1 may measure an autobrake rotor to match it to dimensions listed in the catalogue.
• Level 1 may estimate the measurement of a part by looking at it.
• Level 1 may estimate the length of time it will take for an auto part to be delivered to a repair garage.
• Level 2 may calculate markups on stock such as auto parts by multiplying the cost of the item by a percentage which is specified in the instructions they receive.
• Level 2 may schedule the order of deliveries based on the most efficient routes, cost of gas and customer priorities.
• Level 3 may tally prices, subtract discounts, add sales tax and calculate change to customers.
• Level 3 may compare costs for auto parts from jobbers, auto dealers and auto wreckers to determine the best supplier. They take into account cost, quality, availability, delivery times and whether or not parts will meet the company's warranty requirements.
• Level 3 may estimate the prices of autoparts for customers, taking into account the cost to the company, the markup, and delivery costs.

Examples

• Level 1 discuss products with sales representatives and suppliers.
• Level 1 interact with warehouse staff to check the availability of parts.
• Level 1 communicate with auto parts' dealers and jobbers to place orders and to verify the availability of items.
• Level 1 take orders from customers and provide advice both in-person and by telephone.
• Level 1 discuss delivery options with truck and van drivers.
• Level 2 communicate with mechanics to ascertain for customers the effectiveness of the parts they plan to purchase.
• Level 2 interact with the service manager and other staff members to co-ordinate work.
• Level 2 discuss inventory problems or customer complaints with supervisors.

Examples

• Level 1 may find that customer billings are mixed up because a company has not provided sufficient information for setting up an account. They contact authorities within the company to set up the necessary accounting records.
• Level 1 may find that a product arrives from a supplier soiled or broken. They contact suppliers to get a replacement as quickly as possible.
• Level 2 may have parts returned by customers because the parts do not fit. They may go to the garage to confer with the mechanic or recheck numbers and applications in the catalogue.
• Level 2 may encounter hostile customers who are unwilling to accept that parts or products are not available. They phone other possible sources to try to assist the customer.
• Level 2 may experience computer problems which shut down the automated invoicing and cataloguing system. They consult the computer manual or call in expert assistance.

Examples

• Level 1 decide what items to display and how to organize the display area.
• Level 2 decide from which sources to order supplies.
• Level 2 decide what parts to stock in the warehouse and what parts to discontinue except for special orders.
• Level 2 decide when to refer a customer, with a difficult request, directly to the mechanic or technician for advice.
• Level 2 decide when to reject deliveries which appear to differ from the items ordered.
• Level 2 decide on discounts for wholesale customers taking into account the size of the order, the likelihood of repeat business and the margin of profit.

Examples

• remember the price of a part which a customer asked about several days previously.
• remember part numbers which correspond with specific repair orders.
• remember the phone numbers of regular suppliers.
• remember merchandise-coding information.

Examples

• Level 1 check work-orders to determine if customer orders have been filled.
• Level 1 use a computerized-database to find out what is available in the warehouse.
• Level 1 look-up product warranty expiry information in client files.
• Level 2 refer to manufacturers' catalogues to determine the availability of supplies.
• Level 3 search through catalogues from a variety of suppliers to find a requested item. They may cross-reference by make, model, year and item. If the required item is not available, they may cross-reference the various catalogue numbers to find an appropriate substitute.

Examples

• Level 2 they type work orders and memos.
• Level 2 they use a database to determine whether parts are available in the warehouse.
• Level 2 they produce inventory sheets.
• Level 2 they produce invoices using a computer.
• Level 2 they send e-mail messages to suppliers.

Physical Aspects

Storekeepers and parts clerks sit or stand behind the order desk. They walk briskly to stock areas to retrieve items from shelves. They climb stepladders to reach the higher shelves and bend to pick up parts on lower shelves.

Attitudes

The storekeepers and parts clerks interviewed felt that storekeepers and parts clerks should be positive, friendly and co-operative. They need to be attentive to detail.

Future Trends Affecting Essential Skills

Computerized cataloguing, available to customers in their homes, will change the tasks of storekeepers and parts clerks. Their role in providing service advice will be augmented, while the clerical function of simply locating information for customers will decline. The growing trend toward "just in time" manufacturing will affect their tasks in inventory control, making them more responsible for quick placement of orders and familiarity with what is available through different suppliers. They will thus have a heightened need to find information quickly and accurately.