Waukesha-Pearce Industries, LLC

WPI Parts Department Internship Program

Detailed listing

Delivery

In person source value: In-Person

Length

About 9 to 13 weeks source value: 61 - 90 days

Branches

Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Navy, Space Force

Target MOCs

warehouse/parts

Career field

Installation, Maintenance, and Repair

Defense Industrial Base

Yes

Summary

Waukesha Pearce Industries (WPI) Parts Department SkillBridge Internship Program Program Length: 12 Weeks (480 Hours Total) Schedule: Monday–Friday, up to 40 hours per week (flexible to accommodate training needs) Location: WPI Dealership Facility Target Participants: Transitioning service members with interest in logistics, supply chain, warehouse operations, or customer service roles in heavy equipment distribution. Program Overview This 12-week SkillBridge internship bridges military experience (discipline, teamwork, logistics, and attention to detail) to civilian roles in a Komatsu dealership Parts Department. Participants gain hands-on training in warehouse operations, parts identification, inventory management, dealership systems, customer service, and workflow integration. The program emphasizes safety, accuracy, and professional communication while preparing participants for potential full-time employment at WPI.

What the work involves

Key features include: • Assigned mentor for weekly check-ins and guidance • Progressive structure: Weeks 1–4 (Foundations & Safety), Weeks 5–8 (Technical Skills & Application), Weeks 9–12 (Advanced Application & Career Readiness) • Forklift operator certification (OSHA-compliant) upon completion of Week 2 • Regular performance feedback and midpoint/final evaluations • Focus on translating military skills to dealership success Week-by-Week Training Breakdown Week 1 – Onboarding & Safety Foundations (40 hrs) Learning Objectives: Complete administrative setup, understand dealership culture/policies, master safety protocols, and orient to facility layout. • HR/IT onboarding & setup (8 hrs) • Dealership orientation, policies, & culture (8 hrs) • PPE, hazard communication, lockout/tagout, & general safety training (16 hrs) • Warehouse walkthrough, layout, & emergency procedures familiarization (8 hrs) Milestone: Safety quiz & facility orientation checklist completion. Week 2 – Forklift & Basic Warehouse Operations (40 hrs) Learning Objectives: Achieve forklift certification, learn core warehouse processes, and apply safe material handling techniques. • Forklift classroom theory & safety (8 hrs) • Hands-on forklift operation, evaluation, & certification (16 hrs) • Receiving, inspection, stocking, & put-away procedures (8 hrs) • Picking, staging, packing, & basic material handling (8 hrs) Milestone: OSHA-compliant forklift operator certification. Week 3 – Inventory Control & Shipping Basics (40 hrs) Learning Objectives: Master inventory accuracy techniques and shipping/receiving documentation while reinforcing safety. • Cycle counting, inventory accuracy, & discrepancy resolution (16 hrs) • Shipping/receiving processes & documentation (8 hrs) • Freight handling, packaging standards, & carrier coordination (8 hrs) • Warehouse safety refresher & hazard identification (8 hrs) Milestone: Complete sample cycle count & documentation exercise. Week 4 – Komatsu Equipment & Parts Fundamentals (40 hrs) Learning Objectives: Understand Komatsu product lines, common parts, and basic identification methods. • Overview of Komatsu equipment families & applications (8 hrs) • Identification of common wear parts, consumables, & components (16 hrs) • Serial number decoding, model identification, & basic parts lookup (8 hrs) • Parts department workflow & interdepartmental roles overview (8 hrs) Milestone: Identify 20+ common parts via visual/spec review. Week 5 – Parts Manuals & Dealer Management Systems (40 hrs) Learning Objectives: Navigate Komatsu parts resources and dealership software proficiently. • Komatsu parts manuals (print/digital) navigation & usage (16 hrs) • Dealer parts/inventory software training & transactions (16 hrs) • Support for internal service work orders & basic inquiries (8 hrs) Milestone: Complete parts lookup & transaction exercises in system. Week 6 – Parts Identification & Assessment (40 hrs) Learning Objectives: Apply manuals/systems knowledge to real scenarios and demonstrate proficiency. • Guided parts lookup & identification exercises (16 hrs) • Inventory transactions, adjustments, & error correction (8 hrs) • Formal assessment: manuals, systems, & identification accuracy (8 hrs) • Shadowing warehouse lead & mentor debrief (8 hrs) Milestone: Pass parts identification assessment (80%+ accuracy).Week 7 – Parts Counter Shadowing & Customer Interaction (40 hrs) Learning Objectives: Observe and participate in customer-facing roles with supervision. • Shadowing experienced parts counter staff (24 hrs) • Phone, walk-in, & email customer support basics (8 hrs) • Quoting, order processing, & verification (8 hrs) Milestone: Assist in 10+ customer interactions under supervision. Week 8 – Customer Service & Order Fulfillment (40 hrs) Learning Objectives: Develop professional communication and handle complex orders/emergencies. • Professional communication, active listening, & conflict resolution (8 hrs) • Backorders, supersessions, & substitution processes (8 hrs) • Emergency/breakdown support & expediting (16 hrs) • Order accuracy review & quality checks (8 hrs) Milestone: Process sample emergency orders with mentor review. Week 9 – Advanced Inventory & Components (40 hrs) Learning Objectives: Manage complex inventory scenarios and understand warranty/cores. • Large component handling, rigging, & storage (16 hrs) • Core returns, warranty parts, & claims processes (8 hrs) • Obsolete, surplus, & slow-moving inventory awareness (8 hrs) • Midpoint performance review & mentor feedback session (8 hrs) Milestone: Midpoint evaluation & individualized improvement plan. Week 10 – Supervised Independent Operations (40 hrs) Learning Objectives: Perform warehouse and counter tasks with minimal supervision. • Independent picking, stocking, & inventory maintenance (24 hrs) • Counter support & customer quoting with mentor oversight (8 hrs) • System transactions review & accuracy auditing (8 hrs) Milestone: Demonstrate 90%+ independent task accuracy. Week 11 – Dealership Integration & Career Preparation (40 hrs) Learning Objectives: Integrate across departments and prepare for civilian employment. • Interdepartmental coordination (service, sales, field techs) (16 hrs) • Career paths, performance metrics, & advancement at WPI (8 hrs) • Resume building, interview preparation, & professional branding (8 hrs) • Independent task execution & real-world application (8 hrs) Milestone: Mock interview & career development plan. Week 12 – Final Evaluation & Transition (40 hrs) Learning Objectives: Demonstrate full competency and prepare for employment transition. • Comprehensive final skills assessment & practical evaluation (16 hrs) • Safety & forklift proficiency re-certification review (8 hrs) • Exit interview, program feedback, & lessons learned (8 hrs) • Employment consideration discussion & next steps (8 hrs) Milestone: Program completion certificate & potential job offer discussion. Program Outcomes Upon successful completion, participants will: • Hold forklift operator certification and demonstrate safe warehouse practices. • Proficiently identify Komatsu parts, navigate manuals/systems, and process orders accurately. • Provide professional customer support and handle emergency/breakdown scenarios. • Execute independent warehouse/counter tasks with high accuracy. • Be prepared for full-time roles in parts management or related logistics positions. Successful participants will be strongly considered for employment opportunities at WPI, based on performance and business needs.

Locations

• Houston, TX