Automotive Repair Shop Management

Thank you, Joe.  The link starts playing about 7 minutes into the video for the sake of brevity.  Members can also start the video from the beginning if they are interested in viewing the whole video.

Good points, and perspective! And thanks for the link!  

I've been a transmission repair specialist for all of my 40-year career.  At first, it was because I loved the challenge of automatic transmissions.  As time went on, I learned I was truly blessed because I haphazardly learned that specialization was the key as well.  Lucky me.  I don't know of a tech that can meet the time for any G/R time the first time they do a job.  For that reason, I never went into G/R because there were too many 1-off and first-time repairs. However, I was tempted to go into G/R when transmission repairs got slow.  I agree that specialization is the key, as well as the future, of G/R.  I predict the majority of the shops will do what they've always done when technology changes; they will adapt.  After all, didn't G/R originally adapt from the blacksmith shops to cars?  Below is a recent CNBC news video that puts forward an idea of what the automotive industry can expect over the next 11 years... https://youtu.be/P-NF-7miGLo?t=418

Gerald, I agree with your assessment. Specialization is the key, and we need to assess the strengths of our employees and provide training in those areas. A shop's business model will dictate the competencies needed to provide top-level service/repairs to their customer base.  One more thing to add to this discussion; top pay or A-rated pay cannot be reserved for the "traditional" definition.  Please note that flat rate pay is not the norm in many states, such as New York. Rethinking pay scales is also inevitable.  Looking forward to Vision 2024!   

"Do you have the strength to be honest with yourself?" Michael Smith discusses the importance of personal and company-wide SWOT analysis. He explores the need for continuous learning, development and the role of collaborative feedback in identifying blind spots. He emphasizes the importance of going beyond the initial analysis to consider future goals and potential obstacles. Michael Smith, Herzberg Smith and Co, Michael Smith’s previous episodes HERE Show Notes The concept of doing a personal SWOT analysis (00:01:57) Exploration of the idea of doing a personal SWOT analysis and the importance of getting feedback from others. Starting a personal SWOT analysis with a company SWOT analysis (00:06:23) Suggestion to start the personal SWOT analysis by first conducting a company SWOT analysis and using the insights to inform the individual analysis. The SWOT Analysis and Leadership (00:08:03) Discussion on the importance of doing a SWOT analysis for businesses and the role of leaders in driving the future of the organization. The Importance of Self-Development for Leaders (00:09:31) Exploration of the need for leaders to participate in their own self-development and identify their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. The Path to Mastery for Individuals and Organizations (00:14:54) Emphasis on the ongoing and evolving nature of the path to mastery for individuals and organizations, and the importance of continuous improvement. The importance of individualized learning and development (00:15:03) Discusses the concept of individualized learning and development programs, focusing on strengths and weaknesses. The need for continuous learning and development (00:16:25) Emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and development, including attending conferences and reading books. The importance of accountability and institutionalizing development (00:18:10) Highlights the need for leadership to walk the talk, institutionalize development, and hold people accountable for continuous learning and improvement. The SWOT Afternoon (00:22:08) Discussing the concept of doing a personal SWOT analysis with the team and the benefits of fostering a collaborative culture. Facilitating the Conversation (00:23:14) Exploring the art of facilitating a conversation and the importance of listening and not interrupting during discussions. 360 Reviews and Mentoring (00:25:11) Explaining the use of 360 reviews and the importance of selecting trusted individuals for feedback, as well as the benefits of mentoring relationships within the organization. Inviting Industry Guests (00:29:56) Carm and Michael express their interest in inviting industry professionals to share their experiences and discuss the effectiveness of implementing the discussed strategies. Thanks to our Partner, NAPA Auto Care Learn more about NAPA Auto Care and the benefits of being part of the NAPA family by visiting https://www.napaonline.com/en/auto-care Connect with the Podcast: -Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RemarkableResultsRadioPodcast/ -Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carmcapriotto/ -Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/remarkableresultsradiopodcast/ -Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RResultsBiz -Join our Insider List: https://remarkableresults.biz/insider -All books mentioned on our podcasts: https://remarkableresults.biz/books -Our Classroom page for personal or team learning: https://remarkableresults.biz/classroom -Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/carm -The Aftermarket Radio Network: https://aftermarketradionetwork.com -Special episode collections: https://remarkableresults.biz/collections     Click to go to the Podcast on Remarkable Results Radio

Great questions Joe.  In my opinion, the future is bright for independent repair shops that embrace emerging technologies and invest in training.  See you all at Vision 2024 in Kansas City! However, I can see the possibility that we no longer expect that every tech has the knowledge or training for every job that comes through the shop, as may have been expected in the past.  There may be alignment and ADAS techs, diesel repair techs, driveability diag techs, etc.  Oh, and high tech immobilizer and key programming work that requires locksmith level training.  A certain amount of specialization is inevitable, isn't it? Wouldn't it make sense to have a goal of having two technicians in the shop that have competency for services offered by the company? Gerald  

Episode 141 - Embracing Change in the Automotive Repair Industry With Matt Ruffman

Too many shop owners spend too much time on new customer acquisition. While this is important, they sometimes forget about the customer right in front of them.  Retention is your key marketing strategy. Great topic SMP! As always, great podcast!