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By Joe Marconi in Joe's BlogTypically, when productivity suffers, the shop owner or manager directs their attention to the technicians. Are they doing all they can do to maintain high billable hours? Are they as efficient as they can be? Is there time being wasted throughout the technician’s day?
All these reasons factor into production problems, but before we point fingers at the technicians, let’s consider a few other factors.
Are estimates being written properly? Are labor testing and inspections being billed out correctly? Are you charging enough for testing and inspecting, especially for highly specialized electrical, on-board computer issues, and other complex drivability work? Is there a clear workflow process everyone follows that details every step from the write-up to vehicle delivery? Do you track comebacks, and is that affecting production? Is the shop layout not conducive to high production? For example, is it unorganized, where shop tools, technical information, and equipment are not easily accessible to every technician? Are you charging the correct labor rate and allowing for variables such as rust, vehicle age, and the fact that most labor guides are wrong? Also, is there effective communication between the tech and the service advisor to ensure that extra labor time is accounted for and billed to the customer? These are a few of the top reasons for low productivity problems. There are others, but the main point is to look at the entire operation. Productivity is a team effort. Blaming the techs or other staff members does not get to the root cause in most cases.
Maintaining adequate production levels is the responsibility of management to create the processes that will lead to high production while holding everyone accountable.
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By carmcapriotto
There's an art to giving and receiving critical feedback properly. Join Dr. Dave Weiman as he dives into the psychological background of what happens when people feel criticized. He also explains common mistakes and practical tools to apply for an effective and efficient conversation. Dr. David Weiman is the president of Weiman Consulting, a leadership consulting firm in Philadelphia PA. Listen to David’s previous episodes HERE Show Notes
Common mistakes managers make- waiting too long to give the feedback, if you're letting things fester and stew, by the time you give the feedback, you're really angry, talking about things you didn't directly observe, loading up with several complaints at the same time, and talking too long at the beginning of the conversation Give positive feedback when it's fresh Are people conditioned and associate that good news is always followed by bad news with the 'sandwich technique?' Make it a conversation, not an event. What happens when people feel criticized? Stop listening as they plan how to defend themselves (as defensiveness goes up, listening goes down) Feel resentful. Can wonder why this wasn’t brought up before. Get angry in response. How to give effective critical feedback- mindset, be curious about what the other person’s response may be. Keep your “opening” short, no more than 3 sentences and no more than 10 words per sentence. Use the Situation-Behavior-Impact model from the Center for Creative Leadership: Situation- generally what was going on, “When you were taking the keys from that customer and they said they looked up the problem on google …” Behavior- “I noticed you rolled your eyes.” Impact- the customer said “I saw that!” asked to talk to the manager Interestingly, in studies of body language, we're the least aware of what's going on with our own face because we can't see it, the other person can. A lot of time when we're giving feedback, we're not putting ourselves in the shoes of the person who's receiving it. Be effective and be efficient, the goal is to get better at it, not to be perfect at the first time
Thanks to our Partners AAPEX and NAPA TRACS. Set your sights on Las Vegas in 2023. Mark your calendar now … October 31 - Nov 2, 2023, AAPEX - Now more than ever. And don’t miss the next free AAPEX webinar. Register now at AAPEXSHOW.COM NAPA TRACS will move your shop into the SMS fast lane with onsite training and six days a week of support and local representation. Find NAPA TRACS on the Web at NAPATRACS.com Connect with the Podcast: Aftermarket Radio Network Subscribe on YouTube Visit us on the Web Follow on Facebook Become an Insider Buy me a coffee Important Books Check out today's partners:
Click to go to the Podcast on Remarkable Results Radio
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By carmcapriotto
We are on Part 2 of our Service Advisor Overload discussion because we couldn't fit it all into 1 episode! How ironic! Did you know most shops are missing $300-500k in gross profit dollars because their service advisor doesn't have the time to tap into those dollars? You must build a wall of support around your service advisor.
Dave Schedin, CompuTrek Automotive Management Systems. Dave’s previous episodes HERE Clint White, Service Advisor Coach & Shop Consultant with CWI and currently holds multiple ASE certifications. Listen to Clint’s previous episodes HERE Murray Voth, RPM Training. Listen to Murray’s previous episodes HERE
Show Notes:
Service Advisor Overload [THA 305] Don’t have your advisors do your job as a shop owner- create the environment for success VOIP phone systems for a streamlined process Don’t have one email for the whole shop! Are your advisors doing things manually when they could be automated? “Appointment Request” for the website Alert the customer of the progress (text capabilities) Pre-booking- preventative maintenance, tire changeovers during downtime of the year Are you “wing it” automotive? What is your onboarding system for an advisor? What are their holes from a behavioral standpoint? Soft skills KPIs for service advisors? Measure, track, gauge and improve Be professional- leave the drama at home Accountability coach Understand the probabilities of each department in your shop- don’t mask it all together. Slowly growing into an overload- it doesn’t happen overnight. Eliminate Diversity Overkill- stick with what you’re good at! Fireflies.AI
Thanks to our Partners Shop-Ware and Delphi Technologies Shop-Ware: More Time. More Profit. Shop-Ware Shop Management getshopware.com Delphi Technologies: Keeping current on the latest vehicle systems and how to repair them is a must for today’s technicians. DelphiAftermarket.com
Connect with the Podcast
Aftermarket Radio Network
Subscribe on YouTube
Visit us on the Web
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Buy me a coffee
Important Books
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By carmcapriotto
Chris Lawson is back for Part 2 of our discussion about finding technicians in our industry. This episode focuses on the advanced strategies for finding technicians on Indeed and Facebook. Do you require a resume on Indeed? Find out why you shouldn't! Chris Lawson, TechnicianFind.Com. Chris' previous episodes HERE Show Notes
If you’re looking to hire an experienced technician with a job, throwing more money at job boards is a losing strategy. You need to go where techs hang out online, and that’s social media. Building a connection- ask questions, find out what they are trying to accomplish in their career 2 weeks notice- it’s a dangerous time, follow up with value (shorten the time period, putting in a touch point with communication, remind them why they said yes to the offer). Consider creating a 2 week orientation to keep them engaged. Always be recruiting- ask for referrals. Respond to comments and questions on ads Spend time on good headlines and good ads Why you shouldn’t require a resume on Indeed- do technicians have an updated resume to apply? Get them on the phone! Hiring Insights on Indeed- free tool, the automotive technicians are extremely competitive,
Connect with the Podcast: Aftermarket Radio Network Subscribe on YouTube Visit us on the Web Follow on Facebook Become an Insider Buy me a coffee Important Books Check out today's partners: Set your sights on Las Vegas in 2023. Mark your calendar now … October 31 - Nov 2, 2023, AAPEX - Now more than ever. And don’t miss the next free AAPEX webinar. Register now at AAPEXSHOW.COM NAPA TRACS will move your shop into the SMS fast lane with onsite training and six days a week of support and local representation. Find NAPA TRACS on the Web at NAPATRACS.com
Click to go to the Podcast on Remarkable Results Radio
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By carmcapriotto
With over 20 years in the hospitality industry, author and trainer Steve DiGioia shares some real world tips and tactics to improve your customer service, increase employee morale and provide the experience your customers desire. Steve has a detailed 57 individual steps for dinner service, what are your steps for customer service? Steve Digioia, Author and Trainer Show Notes
How do I make you feel while I am providing this service? What can you do during the service part of the transaction to hook this customer in, hopefully for life? It has to be something more than just a mechanical aspect of it. There has to be something else that separates you from your competition more so than just the physical service you were providing, it's how I make you feel. It's how I make you feel appreciated. It's how I welcome you when you walk into my place of business. Many mechanics, they're focused so much on fixing that they don't realize that the waiting area has to be not only comfortable, and obviously clean, but it should be bright and welcoming. Use customer’s name 3 times. In a perfect world, you shouldn't receive less service because you are paying less. Versus getting extra service taken care of because you happen to be paying more, meaning, a higher-valued car. If you want a consistent product, consistent service, a consistent experience, you have to have something like that because at a bare minimum, it reinforces the steps that the business believes is important to them to be able to service the client Standardized thank you note in every car
Connect with the Podcast: Aftermarket Radio Network Subscribe on YouTube Visit us on the Web Follow on Facebook Become an Insider Buy me a coffee Important Books Check out today's partner: Learn more about NAPA AutoCare and the benefits of being part of the NAPA family by visiting www.NAPAAutoCare.com
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By carmcapriotto
Guest host and shop tour with Dan Hensel and Rachael Barraclough, Amton Auto & Truck, Tonawanda, NY. They have two shop mascots and an intern who loves working with his hands.
Dan Hensel and Rachael Barraclough, Amton Auto & Truck, Tonawanda, NY.
Show Notes:
5 bays- 25% fleet work Skeleton mascot- never took down after Halloween, gets decorated for all holidays now Mya- shop dog Intern Nolan- Big Picture program, Nolan's been at the shop since March 2022. He loves the hands-on work, retains information well, positive experience for both the shop and Nolan. Teaching on a different level. Part time employee- clean and maintain shop few days a week, retiree Best Bathroom in Western New York!
Connect with the Podcast:
Aftermarket Radio Network
Subscribe on YouTube
Visit us on the Web
Follow on Facebook
Become an Insider
Buy me a coffee
Important Books
Check out today's partner:
Dorman gives people greater freedom to fix vehicles by constantly developing new repair solutions that put owners and technicians first. Take the Dorman Virtual Tour at www.DormanProducts.com/Tour
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