News – Page 5 – Encompass Supply Chain Solutions

24 Dec

CE Tech Tips — January 2016

CE Professional Tech Tip Sharing

January 2016

**NOTICE**

Due the danger and complexity of electronics repair, the following shared technical tips are intended for professional reference only. Please refer to manufacturer’s recommendations as Encompass does not guarantee the accuracy, reliability or safety of this information.

Emerson TV, LC320EM9
Reason for Service: Set comes on to start screen then shuts down
Solution: R1943 & 1944 had changed value, and D1940 was shorted. Replacing these fixed the set. Used ECG502 for the diode.

Hitachi TV, 50V500A
Reason for Service: Intermittently dead
Solution: Check R964 for bad or cracked solder.

Hitachi TV, 51UWX20B
Reason for Service: The horizontal is out of sync
Solution: Replacing I401 fixed the set.

Mitsubishi TV, CS35305
Reason for Service: Set has sound but no HV. Replaced the HOT; did not fix the set.
Solution: Check C9119 on pin 4 of IC9010 on the power board. 4.7uF/50V

Panasonic TV, PT51HX43G P8
Reason for Service: Set powers up with a dark screen and has sound. After a while, you start to get a raster.
Solution: Replaced C509 on the D board.

Polaroid TV, FLM373B
Reason for Service: Set comes on, then goes to a blue screen
Solution: Found two bad caps in power supply, C112 and C113, 1000uF/16V.

RCA TV, ATC010 chassis.
Reason for Service: Shuts down, might be intermittent
Solution: Found R835 had increased in value. Replaced with 120k ohm. Fixed the set.

Samsung TV, LNT2354H
Reason for Service: Dead set
Solution: This uses power supply BN44-00158A. Found and replaced bad DZB803 in the power supply. 22V/1W

Samsung TV, LN55B650T1F
Reason for Service: Dead set
Solution: CM807 was bad on the power supply board. 1000uF/25V. Be sure to check and replace CM811 and CM841 and 1000uF/25V.

Sharp LCD TV, LC-26D4UJ
Reason for Service: No sound, comes and goes
Solution: Replace TA2024 and install PSPKIT663WJZZ kit; this fixes the heat sink problem.

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14 Dec

2016 Encompass New Year’s Resolutions

Taking stock of the past year
and contemplating ways to make improvements in the year ahead is not just for
individuals – businesses should also consider making New Year’s Resolutions for
the betterment of their organizations. At Encompass, our overarching resolution
for 2016 is to improve the customer experience through a variety of means,
including:

Listening To and Engaging with Customers

Our customer service agents manage upwards of 5,000 calls a day from people
needing assistance in placing orders, tracking statuses, identifying parts,
making returns, and so on. Agent training is being refined to focus on
empowerment to more quickly resolve issues and help enhance the customer experience.
We always urge customers to let us know of any issues so we can do whatever we
can to make things right.

We are A+ rated and accredited with the Better Business Bureau due largely to
our willingness to respond to and resolve customer complaints. As we process
thousands of orders a day, we don’t always get it right – but we are firmly
committed to turning any situation into a positive experience.

Encompass also vows to remain engaged with the voice of the customer through
surveys and attending industry tradeshows where we can meet one-on-one with
customers. We are driven to listening to our customers to provide for their
needs versus making assumptions.

Minimizing Turnaround Time
We resolve to continue working on expediting our turnaround time by making
operational changes in our warehouse and technological upgrades. We are
consulting with experts to review our processes and workflows and are looking
to implement recommendations that should help speed the pick/pack/ship process. Additionally, we have installed new software
that will help us better forecast purchasing to minimize back orders and
increase high-demand inventory.

Further, we plan to leverage our Service Solutions team to increase
availability of hard-to-find and NLA parts through repairs and parts
reclamation. We are also pursuing a more streamlined freight forwarding
solution to expedite shipments from our overseas vendors.

Introducing New Brands & Verticals
Encompass is always working on extending our line card to provide one-stop,
convenient access to the manufacturer brands our customers need. Most recently
we added the Braun and Oral-B brands, further expanding our Personal Care
vertical. In 2016, we will continue to be on the lookout for opportunities
beyond consumer electronics to deliver a broad selection of parts and
accessories.

Leveraging Technology
The Encompass IT team regularly implements new functionality to our
e-commerce website and other platforms to increase efficiency and provide
customers with helpful tools. We plan to add hundreds of new parts photos to our
e-commerce site encompassparts.com to assist in accurate identification. Plus,
as we gain new manufacturer authorizations, we’re developing customized web
portals to help users – particularly consumers – quickly find the parts and,
increasingly, finished goods they need.

Partners for Aftermarket Support
Encompass is committed to working with manufacturers, retailers, warranty
companies, servicers and others to enhance the after sales supply chain. To
that end, we are hosting a one-day conference in Atlanta on May 18, 2016, to bring together those
involved in the reverse supply chain to share ideas and best practices.
Industry leaders will facilitate a range of topics from transportation
logistics to e-waste to factory warranty support. If you’re as interested in
building a strong reverse supply chain as we are, please join us in May. For
more information, please visit aftermarketpartners.org.

Be sure to take some time
in the coming days to evaluate your organization and determine what steps you
can take to make a positive impact for your business, staff and customers. On
behalf of the entire Encompass team, we wish you a healthy, happy and prosperous
2016!

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02 Dec

Tech Tips – December 2015

CE Professional Tech Tip Sharing

December 2015

**NOTICE**

Due the danger and complexity of electronics repair, the following shared
technical tips are intended for professional reference only. Please refer to
manufacturer’s recommendations as Encompass does not guarantee the accuracy,
reliability or safety of this information.

Hitachi Plasma TV, 42HDS52A

Reason for Service:
Blacks look reddish, may have many vertical lines,
easier noticed on dark scenes

Solution: Replaced logic
board assembly, part number FPF29R-LGC0057.

Hitachi TV, 53FDX20B

Reason for Service: No sync on main picture, but PIP picture is okay

Solution: Replaced IX04.

LG Plasma, 50PJ350.UB

Reason for Service: Set tries to power up with a click, then shuts back off

Solution: Check R927 and
R929 in the power supply. 22ohm,
5W. Replace with correct resistors,
#EBC606600801.

Magnavox LCD TV, 26MD255V/17

Reason for Service: Channels change automatically, intermittently

Solution: Found a leaky
surface mount cap on the button PCB at the top of the set.

Mitsubishi TV, WS55413

Reason for Service: No horizontal deflection

Solution: Found bad solder
on Q5A01; resoldering fixed the set.

Panasonic TV, PT51HX43G

Reason for Service: No picture, but showing retrace lines

Solution: Replacing Q944 and
Q945 fixed the set.

RCA TV, ITC008

Reason for Service: Shuts down, cycles on and off, no video or audio

Solution: Replaced a bad 5V
regulator, IP031. Used a NTE960 for
replacement.

Samsung LCD TV, LTN1535

Reason for Service: Dead

Solution: Found C109 bad,
replacing fixed the set. 1000uF/16V

Sharp LCD TV, LC-26D4UJ

Reason for Service: No sound, or it comes and goes

Solution: Replaced TA2024 and installed PSPKIT663WJZZ Kit. This
fixed the heat sink problem.

Sony TV, DA4

Reason for Service: HV comes up for a second, then shuts down

Solution: Replacing C6556
fixed the set.

Vizio TV, L32

Reason for Service: No or garbled audio.

Solution: Replaced audio IC
TDA8946AJ.

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02 Nov

Working Together to Strengthen the Aftermarket Supply Chain

The product life cycle generally includes
research & development, product introduction, growth, maturity, decline,
and eventual replacement with new technology – then, rinse and repeat!

Those of us who have been around the block
a few times have seen this cycle repeat many times (see CRT, PTV, VCR, DVD…the
list goes on). But there’s another critical aspect of this cycle often overlooked:
once a product enters the marketplace, the multi-faceted after sales stage
begins. While successfully getting a product to market is crucial and vital to
the health and well-being of any manufacturer, ensuring ongoing support through
end-of-life is just as important.

Robert Coolidge
Encompass President & CEO

The foundation of the entire service and
support industry is built on the aftermarket stage of the product life cycle.
From extended warranty companies to field servicers to replacement part
suppliers to claims processors to e-recyclers and many others, the industry is ultimately
committed to adding value to goods regardless of where they may be in the
product life cycle. Extending the life of the product is the end goal.

Having worked in the parts business for
the past 25 years, I know the many segments of the aftermarket supply chain and
understand how important it is to have collaboration among the various vendors
supporting the product lifecycle. Symbiotic relationships are vital for the
industry to flourish. Manufacturers need servicers to maintain their products.
Servicers need parts distributors to stock the components required to make
repairs. Parts distributors need manufacturer authorizations to expand their
line cards – and so on throughout the chain, which ultimately exists to serve
the end user and build brand equity.
Those that ignore the spirit of partnership typically don’t last long in
our industry.

Each link of this chain must build
mutually beneficial relationships to ensure the chain remains unbreakable. One
way to achieve such unity is to form a professional association that fosters
open dialogue and serves as a forum in which to share best practices. Encompass
is currently trying to gauge interest in creating Partners for Aftermarket
Support (PAS) – a collaborative industry association to bring together those
who are dedicated to strengthening the after sales supply chain.

We envision this being an all-inclusive
association whose members share a commitment to providing superior service and
support to end users. With strong support, we all can win. End users who have a
positive experience with a brand are likely to repurchase those products and
warranties, which eventually will leads to service opportunities to like-minded
members.

We all have a lot to learn from each
other, which can’t be done in a vacuum. Joining together to share ideas could
help us all take our industry to the next level of service and support.

If you are interested in participating in
Partners for Aftermarket Support or have any feedback, please let me know: rcoolidge@encompass.com

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29 Oct

CE Tech Tips — November 2015

CE Professional Tech Tip Sharing

November 2015

**NOTICE**

Due the danger and complexity of electronics repair, the following shared
technical tips are intended for professional reference only. Please refer to
manufacturer’s recommendations as Encompass does not guarantee the accuracy,
reliability or safety of this information.

Hitachi TV, 53FDX20B

Reason for Service: Horizontal links in picture when cold or first turned on

Solution: Wiggle the anode connector at each CRT to determine if it
causes the symptom. Replace anode lead.

Hitachi TV, 57UWX20B

Reason for Service: Focus not working correctly on left and right side of picture

Solution: Add 2 spark gaps (CJ00072R) – one between pin 4 and 5 and
one between pin 8 and 5 of TG01.

Hitachi TV, 46UX12B

Reason for Service: No power, RL-901 does click

Solution: Check and replace
if necessary the following: CP-901, IC-901, ZD-904.

Insignia Plasma, NS-PDP42

Reason for Service:
Set dead. When power button is pressed, LED goes
from red to green and back to red in a second or so.

Solution: Replacing several
3300uF/10V caps on the power supply board fixed the set: C238, C240, C241, C242
and C253.

Mitsubishi TV, WD-65735

Reason for Service: Lamp doesn’t light. Owner replaced, blinking LED still
shows bad lamp.

Solution: This lamp must be
replaced with OEM only; it has a much lower strike voltage.

Panasonic TV, PT47WXC43G

Reason for Service: No audio

Solution: Check and replace IC1101.

Philips TV, 50PFP5332D/37

Reason for Service:
Shuts down at turn on. It may work if you unplug VS
or VA plugs.

Solution: Replace the power
supply.

RCA TV, ITC008 chassis

Reason for Service: Set shuts down after a few seconds.

Solution: Replaced bad TX508.

Sony TV, DA4

Reason for Service: No high voltage, intermittently. Set turns on, then 6 blink error.

Solution: Replaced both
IC6501 and IC8002. Used MCZ3001DB for
better reliability.

Toshiba TV, 60SX2K

Reason for Service:
Horizontal / vertical roll.

Solution: Replaced M-301

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30 Sep

Tech Tips — October 2015

CE Professional Tech Tip Sharing

October 2015

**NOTICE**

Due the danger and complexity of electronics repair, the following shared
technical tips are intended for professional reference only. Please refer to
manufacturer’s recommendations as Encompass does not guarantee the accuracy,
reliability or safety of this information.

Emerson TV, LC320EM1F FL10.3

Reason for Service:
Dead set, no LED lit or blinking

Solution: Found a bad 390k
ohm resistor open in series to the gate of Q501. Check them all.

Hitachi TV, 51UWX20B

Reason for Service:
Shutting down.
Horizontal output voltage and B+ Ok.
Horizontal output collector distorted waveform.

Solution: Replaced defective
TH01.

Magnavox Combo, MSD724G

Reason for Service:
Dead

Solution: Found a shorted diode,
D1618 located in the secondary or the SMPS.
FR154, used an ECG580.

Mitsubishi TV, LT46144

Reason for Service:
Video has solid vertical lines

Solution: Replace the
panel. 289P107010 – call Mitsubishi to
see if they will help with the cost.

Panasonic flat panel, TCP42X1

Reason for Service:
Dead, one blink

Solution: Replaced defective A CBA. #TXN/A1EQUUS

Panasonic Plasma TV, TCP60ST30

Reason for Service:
Mechanical buzzing noise

Solution: Loose screws,
install Kit # XYN3+F6FJ-12PK.

Samsung TV, LN55C610N1FXZA

Reason for Service:
Picture flickers intermittently.

Solution: If your model uses
the BN44-00342B power supply, snip jumper JP854.

Sharp TV, LC26SU10

Reason for Service:
Has sound but no backlight

Solution: Problem was a bad
small black fuse near two larger ones on the backlight board.

Sony TV, KV-36XBR800

Reason for Service:
Two blinks and shuts down

Solution: Found an open R5065, 270k ohm, Sixteenth W surface
mount, located pin 4 of HO transformer,
T5001. Replaced with eighth W.

Toshiba TV, 46UX12B

Reason for Service:
No power, no relay click.

Solution: Found Q-0015
bad. Replacing it fixed the set.

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24 Sep

Leveraging Technology to Manage Service Parts for Warranty Claims

Manufacturers
and warranty companies are under constant pressure to reduce warranty claims
costs while maintaining customer satisfaction and retention. Both must continually
seek opportunities to control costs, maintain service levels and ultimately
drive favorable Net Promoter Scores. One proven strategy that achieves all of
these goals is to integrate claims management systems with service parts vendors.

Robert Coolidge
President &CEO

With direct systems
connectivity, parts needed for a repair can be properly identified and readily
dispatched during the triage stage of the warranty claims process. In-home
service can also be accurately scheduled to coincide with part delivery to the
consumer or technician – streamlining the process and reducing turn time. All
parties involved have complete visibility to this critical component of the
repair process, and with significant benefits:

Manufacturers
and warranty companies can rest assured the correct part(s) arrive, and pricing
is transparent.

Service entities
can track shipments and accurately schedule service calls.

Customer service
is armed with on-demand data to field service inquiries.

Consumers
clearly understand the status of their service incident.

Manufacturers
and warranty companies retain customers and avoid costly buyouts.

There are
several simple but effective ways to build connectivity between disparate
systems. One such conduit is Simple Object Access Protocol – or SOAP – which
enables a program running in one kind of operating system to communicate
with a program in the same or other operating system by using the web’s
Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) and its Extensible Markup Language (XML) as
the mechanisms for information exchange. Sound complicated? It did to me when Encompass first embarked on
this platform of connectivity, but we have since found this solution to be
quite simple and cost effective.

Encompass currently maintains SOAP connectivity with many
warranty companies (or their claims administrator) and manufacturers. In
addition to parts ordering capability, connectivity provides visibility to
real-time order status and shipment tracking, and enables users to easily
cancel orders or initiate returns.
Developers can easily access our SOAP interface via www.encompassparts.com/soap. Although SOAP is the most effective platform
available today, other formats can be effective as well, such as EDI or FTP. We have yet to find a data format that can’t
be utilized to drive benefit to the repair process.

By far, reduced repair time is the most significant
advantage of this strategy. All manufacturers and warranty companies set
aggressive timelines for repairs to be completed, and rightfully so. If the
deadline is not met, they may have to compensate the customer in some way, and/or
potentially risk customer satisfaction.

The synchronization of in-home service with parts
delivery can shave valuable days off the repair process, providing a
win-win-win for all involved. In the age of social media, news travels at light
speed. Connectivity to the parts portion
of the service experience provides an edge manufacturers and warranty companies
can leverage to ensure complete customer satisfaction of the service
experience, and help build lasting customer relationships.

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28 Aug

CE Tech Tips — September 2015

CE Professional Tech Tip Sharing

September 2015

**NOTICE**

Due the danger and complexity of electronics repair, the following shared
technical tips are intended for professional reference only. Please refer to
manufacturer’s recommendations as Encompass does not guarantee the accuracy,
reliability or safety of this information.

Hitachi TV, 51UWX20B

Reason for Service:
Shutting down.
Horz output voltage and B+ ok.
Horz output collector has distorted waveform.

Solution: Replaced defective
TH01.

Magnavox TV, TP3273C102

Reason for Service: High voltage starts to come up at turn on, then shuts
down.

Solution: Replacing C420
fixed the set. 220uF/16V

Panasonic Flat Panel, TCP42X1

Reason for Service:
Dead, one blink

Solution: Replaced defective A CBA.
#TXN/A1EQUUS

Panasonic Plasma TV, TH42PX75U

Reason for Service:
Dead, red LED flashing 8 blinks

Solution: Replacing the SS board
fixed the set.

Panasonic TV, TH-42PZ700U

Reason for Service: 7 blinks

Solution: There are a row of surface mount FETs on the SC
module/Y-Sus. One of them is shorted;
lift one leg on each transistor to measure for the shorted one.

Philips TV, 50PFP5332D/37

Reason for Service: Dead

Solution: Found a bad cap,
C8014. 33uF/450V. Replace F8002 also, 1A/250.

RCA TV, ATC010 chassis.

Reason for Service: Shuts down, might be intermittent.

Solution: Found R835 had increased in value. Replaced with 120k ohm. This fixed the set.

Sharp TV, LC26SU10

Reason for Service:
Has sound but no backlight.

Solution: Problem was a bad
small black fuse near two larger ones on the backlight board.

Sony TV KDL46XBR2

Reason for Service: No picture, backlight or sound, green LED and Sony logo
are on.

Solution: Check for an open
fuse on the T-con. It might be a 3 or 4
A.

Sony TV, LA3

Reason for Service:
Dead with 6 blinks

Solution: Replaced thermal fuse on optical block and IC1607 on the
G1 board.

Vizio TV, SV470M

Reason for Service: No audio and remote control will not work.

Solution: Had to replace the
main board, #3642-0692-0150

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26 Aug

Ensuring Quality Aftermarket Support Amidst CE Brand Consolidation

Brand consolidation in the consumer electronics industry just took
another step forward with the recent announcement that Sharp has agreed to
license its prestigious name to Hisense. Sharp is the latest in a long line of
other manufacturers like Philips, Toshiba, Mitsubishi and Hitachi to enter into
this type of arrangement. With just a handful of global manufacturers now
dominating the U.S. Consumer Electronics market, consolidation could become
even more prevalent.

Robert Coolidge
President & CEO

As electronics manufacturing has shifted from the
U.S. to Mexico to the Asia-Pacific, many powerhouse brands like Zenith, Sylvania
and RCA have gone the way of the VCR. Many overseas manufacturers have since looked
to capitalize on the value of world-leading Consumer Electronics brands to
better penetrate the U.S. market. For manufacturers following this path, it is critical
that they protect the brand value of their new assets by ensuring a seamless
service experience.

While consumers may have loyalty to certain
electronics brands, that allegiance can be tenuous. The first time repair parts
aren’t available or they’re unable to find a servicer, their perception of a
once-coveted brand will likely plummet. With other strong brands ready to step
in as replacements, manufacturers have to stay on their game during the
post-sale period.

Manufacturers expanding in the U.S. should
leverage the service process as a differentiator and compelling reason to retain
brand loyalty. We in the service community must stay attuned to these
consolidations and maintain a role in aftermarket support to help deliver a consistent
service experience.

As long as manufacturers – along with parts suppliers,
warranty claims administrators and service networks – execute as team to
continue providing reliable product support, it shouldn’t matter what’s behind
the manufacturing curtain. With strong backing, the brand will have a much
better chance to retain its quality status in the minds of U.S. consumers.

Beyond the service experience, manufacturers now thriving
in the Consumer Electronics space are well diversified into other product
categories and are “owning the home” from the family room to the laundry room.
When 4k display becomes more mainstream, controlling content will also become a
key competitive factor.

With competition among Consumer Electronics manufacturers
tightening and the industry contracting in general, the most successful players
are fiercely protecting their brands and aggressively working to gain ever
greater wallet share.

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10 Aug

HR Manager Wanted

Encompass is seeking an HR Manager to join our team in Lawrenceville, GA. This is a great opportunity to motivate and inspire more than 200 employees in two states. Please click here to see the full job description.

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