Warranty Check 

Use

You can use the warranty check to determine whether a warranty still exists for an object.

The warranty start can take place at different points in time. For example, a warranty can start at one of the following times:

The validity period is calculated from that point in time, based on the time or counter readings specified.

If, during the warranty check, you want the system to display the warranty data for the superior technical objects in addition to the warranty of the technical object being checked, you can set the following indicators:

You can also set the indicator Pass on warranty when you create a master warranty. If the indicator is set in the master warranty, it is automatically copied when you enter the master warranty in the technical object. This indicator specifies whether the master warranty of the technical object should be passed on to the technical objects lower down in the hierarchy. If this indicator is set, both the warranties of the object being checked and those of the superior technical objects in the hierarchy are displayed in a list during the warranty check. The system searches for the next-highest equipment and the next-highest functional location for which the indicator Pass on warranty is set, and to which a master warranty or a warranty period is assigned. A maximum of two higher technical objects per warranty type are displayed.

This indicator specifies whether the master warranty or the warranty period can or cannot be inherited from the next-highest technical object in the hierarchy level. If the indicator is set, both the warranties that have been passed on and the warranties for the technical object are displayed in a list for the warranty check. If the indicator is not set, only the warranties for the technical object are displayed.

Activities

You can set in Customizing whether a dialog box should be displayed automatically in the event of a positive warranty check when creating a notification or an order, or when performing flexible billing.

Plant Maintenance and Customer Service ® Master Data in Plant Maintenance and Customer Service ® Basic Settings ® Warranties ® Define Warranty Types.

When a claim is made for a warranty service, it must be checked for each counter whether the warranty is still valid. Depending on the counters involved, this check is either performed automatically by the system, or manually by the user. For example, if the warranty is valid for a certain period of time from the start date, the system can determine automatically whether the claim is being made within the validity period of the warranty.

If, for example, the validity of the warranty depends on a counter reading, the system technician must take the counter reading and check it against the warranty conditions.

A car dealer sells a car on 01/01/99 with a general warranty valid for up to 1 year or up to 10,000 miles, and a corrosion guarantee valid for up to 5 years from date of purchase.

Six months later, the owner brings his car back to the customer services department. The car dealer performs normal customer service as stipulated by the manufacturer, and checks the service items in the warranty, to establish whether the services that have been performed are covered by the warranty.

He checks the validity period, or it is checked automatically on the basis of the current date.

He checks the actual mileage of the car’s milometer.

If the car displays any specific problems (for example, signs of rust), these must be inspected by a skilled employee, who then decides whether the repair work would be covered by the warranty or not. He also checks, for example, what external influences the car has been subjected to during the period of time in consideration. (Information regarding conditions or usage can be entered in long text form.)