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ShopFlow A Live Case Study with DunRite Transmission & Auto Care - Chris Cotton Weekly Blitz


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During Today's episode #106 Work Flow for Auto Repair Shops We Talk About:

  • What’s the Problem
  • What’s the fix
  • Steps to correct the issue

 

This episode is sponsored by AutoLeap. AutoLeap is a cloud-based all-in-one automotive invoice software that helps you supercharge your mechanic shop. Their customers have experienced:

 

  • 30% increase in revenue by improving transparency and trust
  • 50% reduction in time spent researching and ordering parts
  • 10% increase in profit margins through robust reporting

 

In this podcast episode, Coach Chris Cotton Owner and Lead Coach from Autofix Auto Shop Coaching hosts Rodney, an automotive shop owner with 25 years of experience with two shops, to discuss workflow for auto repair shops.

 

Brent, another coach from Autofix Auto Shop Coaching, also joins the conversation. The speakers discuss challenges in managing workflow, improving efficiency, and attracting and retaining qualified technicians.

They suggest implementing digital processes, hiring more service advisors and technicians, and separating the shops to focus on specific services. The episode provides practical advice and suggestions for improving shop workflow and emphasizes the importance of going digital and improving parts-receiving processes.

Click here to learn more about AutoLeap and schedule a demo: http://bit.ly/3GRgO88

Don't forget to rate and review us!

Connect with Chris:

[email protected]

940.400.1008

www.autoshopcoaching.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AutoFixAutoShopCoaching

Youtube: https://bit.ly/3ClX0ae

**Introduction [00:00:02]**

Coach Chris Cotton introduces himself and Coach Brent and Autofix Auto Shop Coaching, thanks to AutoLeap for their support, and previews the episode.

 

**Rodney's background [00:01:48]**

Rodney introduces himself as an automotive shop owner with 25 years of experience and two shops, and explains his interest in improving shop workflow.

 

**Softball questions [00:03:09]**

Chris asks Rodney about his favorite superhero growing up and what he wanted to be when he grew up.

 

**Rodney's career progression [00:04:19]**

Rodney talks about growing up in Florence, South Carolina, transferring schools to study auto mechanics, and starting his own business at 19 years old.

 

**Brent's question [00:06:21]**

Brent asks Rodney about his shop's current processes for intake and creating shop flow.

 

**Workflow and Customer Service [00:07:13]**

Rodney explains the workflow and customer service model in his two auto repair shops.

 

**Shop Management System [00:09:08]**

Rodney shares that he uses Mitchell in both shops and Brent asks about the digitalization of the process.

 

**Estimate Presentation [00:12:55]**

Brent asks about how estimates are presented to customers and suggests using text messages with links to the estimate.

 

**Ordering Parts [00:14:08]**

Brent asks about who orders parts and Rodney explains that the service advisor orders them electronically.

 

**Technicians writing up parts list [00:14:47]**

Coach Chris suggests having technicians write up their parts list and labor times to avoid parts ordering and receiving issues.

 

**Adding another service advisor [00:15:47]**

Coach Chris recommends adding another service advisor to increase car count and build better customer relationships.

 

**Receiving parts efficiently [00:16:41]**

Coach Brent suggests having a good process for receiving parts to avoid inefficiencies and roadblocks.

 

**Verifying parts before scheduling [00:18:15]**

Rodney explains how they verify all parts are received before scheduling a job.

 

**Tracking technician productivity [00:19:42]**

Coach Chris asks about tracking technician productivity and Rodney admits they are not 100% productive.

 

**Feeling overwhelmed [00:20:58]**

Rodney shares how his technicians feel overwhelmed and he is considering slowing down the car count to avoid burnout.

 

**Hiring more technicians [00:22:46]**

Coach Brent asks about the number of technicians and bays in Rodney's shop, suggesting he has room to hire more technicians.

 

**Workflow and Technician Productivity [00:23:08]**

Discussion on how to improve workflow and productivity by hiring more technicians or production apprentices and leaving technicians on a job.

 

**Recruiting Qualified Technicians [00:24:14]**

Difficulty in recruiting qualified technicians in the area and efforts to improve the quality of the tech school.

 

**Individualizing the Shop [00:25:27]**

Efforts to separate the shop and individualize it by putting it in different sections and shifting tasks to technicians based on their strengths and weaknesses.

 

**Recruiting Technicians from Other Areas [00:27:15]**

Suggestion to recruit technicians from other areas by raising the labor rate, offering more benefits, and using recruiting platforms like Indeed or a new company that guarantees a hire.

 

**Digital and Paperless System [00:30:54]**

The speakers discuss the benefits of using digital and paperless systems to speed up the workflow in auto repair shops.

 

**Efficiency in the Shop [00:31:51]**

The speakers talk about the importance of efficiency in the shop and suggest small changes that can make a big difference in reducing the number of steps technicians take.

 

**Segmenting the Business [00:33:33]**

The speakers discuss the possibility of segmenting the business into two different shops, one for auto repair and one for transmission, to better track and manage profitability. They also discuss the challenges of parts availability and time constraints in the transmission business.

 

**Transmission Shop Profit Margin [00:38:38]**

Discussion on the profit margin of a transmission shop and the potential for increased profits through additional repairs and maintenance.

 

**Workflow for Transmission Shop [00:39:46]**

Discussion on the number of R&R techs and builders needed for a transmission shop, as well as the use of remanufactured parts.

 

**Separating Auto Repair and Transmission Shops [00:43:37]**

Discussion on the potential benefits of separating auto repair and transmission shops, including improved workflow and the need for a new marketing strategy.

 

**Workflow Improvement Ideas [00:46:18]**

Discussion on improving workflow by having a call center, cloud-based system, and separating shops.

 

**Mitchell System [00:47:01]**

Discussion on the use of Mitchell system and its limitations.

 

**Cloud-Based System [00:50:15]**

Discussion on the benefits of a cloud-based system and the possibility of switching to one.

**Summary of Improvement Ideas [00:52:34]**

Summary of the discussed improvement ideas, including going digital, hiring more technicians, and improving parts receiving process.

 

Don't forget to rate and review us!

Click to go to the Podcast on Remarkable Results Radio

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  • Have you checked out Joe's Latest Blog?

         5 comments
      I recently spoke with a friend of mine who owns a large general repair shop in the Midwest. His father founded the business in 1975. He was telling me that although he’s busy, he’s also very frustrated. When I probed him more about his frustrations, he said that it’s hard to find qualified technicians. My friend employs four technicians and is looking to hire two more. I then asked him, “How long does a technician last working for you.” He looked puzzled and replied, “I never really thought about that, but I can tell that except for one tech, most technicians don’t last working for me longer than a few years.”
      Judging from personal experience as a shop owner and from what I know about the auto repair industry, I can tell you that other than a few exceptions, the turnover rate for technicians in our industry is too high. This makes me think, do we have a technician shortage or a retention problem? Have we done the best we can over the decades to provide great pay plans, benefits packages, great work environments, and the right culture to ensure that the techs we have stay with us?
      Finding and hiring qualified automotive technicians is not a new phenomenon. This problem has been around for as long as I can remember. While we do need to attract people to our industry and provide the necessary training and mentorship, we also need to focus on retention. Having a revolving door and needing to hire techs every few years or so costs your company money. Big money! And that revolving door may be a sign of an even bigger issue: poor leadership, and poor employee management skills.
      Here’s one more thing to consider, for the most part, technicians don’t leave one job to start a new career, they leave one shop as a technician to become a technician at another shop. The reasons why they leave can be debated, but there is one fact that we cannot deny, people don’t quit the company they work for, they usually leave because of the boss or manager they work for.
      Put yourselves in the shoes of your employees. Do you have a workplace that communicates, “We appreciate you and want you to stay!”
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