VOLUME 3, ISSUE 9 DECEMBER 2009 Let s Talk Service LTS Service Bulletins: 4317472 Maytag and KitchenAid Freestanding Gas and Electric Self-Clean Range, Rack Falling or Dropping 8178797 JennAir Combo Ovens & Microwave Ovens Microwave end of cycle operation, turntable, light and cooling fan continue to run Inside this issue: Lights, Camera, Action! 1 REMINDER! Accept your Agreement Sweating Issue with Tempest Refrigerator 1 2 Distance-Based Learning and Lights, Camera, Action! By Cliff Chewning, Regional Manager, Western and Pacific States Distance Based Learning (DBL) is the latest answer to training challenges in many large organizations, including Whirlpool Corporation. By definition it directs us to provide the most effective methods of teaching from a single location and touching our students located in all parts of the country. It is fully understood that direct, face toface, hands on training is the traditional training method. Still we are all faced with tough economic challenges and time constraints. So these new alternative training methods not only saves travel and shipping expenses for Whirlpool, but allow Independent Service Technicians to view training on your time, and not have to travel to a training site perhaps hours away from your shop. The most familiar methods used recently are CDs, DVDs, and web links. At Whirlpool these might be Control Booth through Servicematters.com or the Whirlpool Brand Academy web sites. Still, there is a new form of DBL to be tapped, the use of live streaming video. Live streaming video is the web s version of live television via the internet. Several District Service Managers (DSMs), including our own western region team members, Tim Burdick and Chris Moffett, have begun testing this very effective training method. Also added to the national team, Megan Gesing, was hired to assist DSMs in developing new and improved DBT training videos and live broadcasts. This may seem all too easy, since nearly everybody has a web cam on their desk, right? Just point and shoot NOT SO! Just like any live television production, such as an evening news show, planning and coordination must take place before we hear Lights, Camera, and Action! First comes the process flow, beginning with a training storyboard. See Action! Page 4 ClaimsCorner 2 Smart Service Calls 3 Decal & Patch Order Form & Flyer 5 Well, we re winding down the last weeks of the 2010 Reauthorization period. Can you believe it? With the 4th year of ServiceBench agreement processing, the old days of paper agreements shuffling back and forth cross country appear to finally be in the past! If you have Accepted your Agreement, rest easy for the Holiday Season! For those of you who are still dawdling? In just a few clicks, taps and ENTERS, you too could put the 2010 Agreement and yourself to rest. Don t risk having your agreement lapse. The date to remember is 12/15/09. It s Not Too Late YET!--
LET S TALK SERVICE Whirlpool TechLine Tips PROBLEM: Sweating mullion between the fresh food doors on the new, bottom-mount Tempest units with ice bucket in the door. Tech Line has been receiving calls from the field on how to test the mullion heater, and how to turn the mullion heater on 100% of the time on the new Tempest units. Tempest units are the new bottom mount units that have the ice bucket on the left hand door in the refrigerator section. The mullion heater is a 14vdc heater controlled by a sensor on the board. Preset settings on the board run the mullion heater for different humidity levels. You can change this setting in the service mode, to be on all the time due to humidity levels. Because of the sensor, the operation to test the mullion will be different than for our other units. Access the mullion connection by removing the screw holding the mullion in place. Then, lift up on the mullion to release the part from the door, and unplug the molex connection. Put the unit into a service mode per directions on the tech sheet located in front of the condenser. Go to step 24 in the service 24. Mullion Heater Status ON / OFF to control heater test ON / OFF Figure A. When this step is seen on the display, it will show the heater ON. The mullion should begin to feel warm after 2 3 minutes. Notes From the Claims Processing Team mode. This is a test that will turn on the heater. This step is for testing only (Fig A). Once you confirm the center mullion is warm to the touch, you can turn the mullion on 100% of the time. In step 25 (Fig. B), you can choose to either run the mullion ON the sensor, or to run mullion 100% 25. Mullion Heater Mode Turning the sensor OFF will turn the mullion heater ON 100% of the time. Figure B. of the time when the sensor is OFF. Once you set the sensor to the OFF position, EXIT the service mode. NOTE: It is important that all the doors are closed. The heater will not work if any of the doors are open. If you are reading the correct voltage, you can then put the mullion back on the door. Steve Kelley Refrigeration Product Lead PAGE 2 The claims processing department would like to remind all service companies that when calling for ServiceBench or warranty claims support please dial us at 888 678 8808. You do not need to select an option to be connected with our department. Our regular hours of operation are Mon. Fri. between the hours of 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. eastern time. So that you may plan ahead for the remaining 2009 holidays, the Claims Processing Team will be closed Thursday 11/26 & Friday, 11/27, and Thursday, 12/24 & Friday, 12/25.
VOLUME 3, ISSUE 9 Running Smart Service Calls With today s economy being what it is, we have all seen companies in various industries restructure the way they run their businesses. In some cases, we ve seen noticeable positive effects to these companies and their customers as a result of drastic changes they have made. We in the Appliance Service Industry need to also take advantage of this trend. If a service technician just jumps in the truck and rolls to the customer s home without proper preparation, in today s world that would be like throwing cash out of the window as you drive along. Good technicians are good detectives. In most cases, if the technician can make contact with the customer before leaving their shop/office, they can get the latest and best description of what the customer is experiencing with the appliance. During the phone call with the customer, the technician needs to be a good detective and ask many questions that would help pinpoint the source of the customer s complaint. This phone call will assure the customer that their issue is important to the servicer; it provides the technician valuable information that will shorten diagnostic time by focusing the tech s attention to the right area. After having this conversation with the customer, the technician may also be able to take the necessary parts to complete the call on the first trip a winner for both the customer and the service company! Don t count on the techsheet being with the unit! All major appliances produced by Whirlpool Corporation leave the factory with the techsheet attached. Unfortunately, it is occasionally not there when you need it the most. Not having this vital diagnostic tool available can be a problem to even the most seasoned technician. Fortunately, many techs carry laptop computers and can access the information at Service Matters online, while at the job site. Don t have a laptop aboard? Be sure to visit www.servicematters.com before leaving the shop/office, and print the techsheets for the models that you are scheduled to work on during the day. This can also be done in advance by your office personnel, as calls are routed. Please keep in mind that some of our techsheets are being re written to include output voltages and better step by step diagnostic procedures, to be more helpful to the technicians. We are also very conscientious of the amount of paper that we use as we create new techsheets. In some cases, the techsheet available on the Service Matters website will provide more detailed information than the techsheet that you will find attached to the unit. The TechLine is happy to assist you. TechLine Master Technicians have walked a mile in your shoes. Most of us had been service techs 15 to 25 years before joining the TechLine. We do understand the importance of resolving the customer s problem in a timely manner. Please remember that we are at our best when you are with the unit that you re calling about, with the area of service exposed, and with the necessary testing equipment such as a volt/ohm meter, amp meter, manometer, temperature tester, pocket thermometer available. We need technical information to help you to resolve technical problems. Finally, be observant. Before making the call to the Techline, take a minute to visually inspect the unit components and wiring to look for anything that is abnormal. We've seen good technicians resolve numerous complaints that sounded complicated, just by taking the time to look for the obvious. Willie O. Parker Tech-Line Cooking Product Lead We would accomplish many more things if we did not think of them as impossible. - Vince Lombardi From the elves at the Field Service Admin. workshop (including Matt, Stephanie, Nadia, Steve, Isabel, Vaughn and Judy), our best wishes for your health and happiness in this holiday season. Please remember and cherish that which is truly important! PAGE 3
WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION Whirlpool Corporation 553 Benson Road Mail Drop 8020 Benton Harbor, MI 49127 Email to: NAR FSA@Whirlpool.com Fax: 269 923 5342 Let s Talk Service is a monthly publication of Whirlpool Corporation. It is designed and intended to be used by Authorized Whirlpool technicians. This publication may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, electronically or otherwise, without the express written permission of the Whirlpool Manager of Publications. Registered Trademark/ Trademark of Whirlpool, U.S.A., KitchenAid, U.S.A., or Maytag Corporation, or its related companies. All other trademarks are owned by their respective companies. Action! Continued from Page 1 Setting up the set The storyboard would include all the high level content and activities which need to be performed, such as trainer script, course layout, video clips and animation, text slides and pictures, brief introduction to the product, demonstration of component access, with a follow up of component breakdown. These will all highlight the working, maintenance and repair of a product. This would then need to be reviewed by the legal department. The process also defines the show s needs, such as product and components, computer, software programs and proper repair related tools. The location of the broadcast is critical to the overall impact to the audience. This means securing a studio with proper, required lighting, sound, cameras, and having the systems, equipment and ability to connect live streaming data to the internet. Special wireless microphones and speakers are required to allow real time interaction with the internet audience at the time of viewing. Three to four cameras are needed to provide as many angles to view the product and any demonstration. This would include a boom mounted camera, as well as one on the ceiling looking down. All would be coordinated by an on site production director to keep the flow of shots and sound on time, to meet the broadcasting time limits. Remember that storyboard? It is what the director uses to maintain the information and content flow that keeps everybody involved on task. However, the most important piece of the broadcast is the trainer. Everyone has heard of star power, or the intangible wrapped up in stage presence. Most of us can remember those teachers we all had in school who wrote the text book on the class subject, but could not relate it to the student or audience. It is the mission of the trainer to make the connection with his or her students. They must be great communicators, with a strong ability to get the message across. As you can see, it s not quite as easy as just point the web cam and talk. The Whirlpool field training team plans to have a few of these streaming video sessions near the end of 2009, and during the first quarter of 2010. Please be on the lookout for the web link invitations from your local DSM. And, think of this also as a new career opportunity for some of Tim Burdick in Action! us more experienced technicians who are just burning to find that ticket to Hollywood and superstardom! We are all looking forward to training and visiting with you on the internet in the very near future.