Elite Podcast - First in series - Bryan Lagas of SST with Joe Marconi
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Have you checked out Joe's Latest Blog?
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By Joe Marconi in Joe's Blog0 commentsAuto shop owners are always looking for ways to improve production levels. They focus their attention on their technicians and require certain expectations of performance in billable labor hours. While technicians must know what is expected of them, they have a limited amount of control over production levels. When all factors are considered, the only thing a well-trained technician has control over is his or her actual efficiency.
As a review, technician efficiency is the amount of labor time it takes a technician to complete a job compared to the labor time being billed to the customer. Productivity is the time the technician is billing labor hours compared to the time the technician is physically at the shop. The reality is that a technician can be very efficient, but not productive if the technician has a lot of downtime waiting for parts, waiting too long between jobs, or poor workflow systems.
But let’s go deeper into what affects production in the typical auto repair shop. As a business coach, one of the biggest reasons for low shop production is not charging the correct labor time. Labor for extensive jobs is often not being billed accurately. Rust, seized bolts, and wrong published labor times are just a few reasons for lost labor dollars.
Another common problem is not understanding how to bill for jobs that require extensive diagnostic testing, and complicated procedures to arrive at the root cause for an onboard computer problem, electrical issue, or drivability issue. These jobs usually take time to analyze, using sophisticated tools, and by the shop’s top technician. Typically, these jobs are billed at a standard menu labor charge, instead of at a higher labor rate. This results in less billed labor hours than the actual labor time spent. The amount of lost labor hours here can cripple a shop’s overall profit.
Many shop owners do a great job at calculating their labor rate but may not understand what their true effective labor is, which is their labor sales divided by the total labor hours sold. In many cases, I have seen a shop that has a shop labor rate of over $150.00 per hour, but the actual effective labor rate is around $100. Not good.
Lastly, technician production can suffer when the service advisors are too busy or not motivated to build relationships with customers, which results in a low sales closing ratio. And let’s not forget that to be productive, a shop needs to have the right systems, the right tools and equipment, an extensive information system, and of course, great leadership.
The bottom line is this; many factors need to be considered when looking to increase production levels. While it does start with the technician, it doesn’t end there. Consider all the factors above when looking for ways to improve your shop’s labor production.
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By Joe Marconi
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By carmcapriotto
"76% of people have glossophobia, the fear of public speaking. They fear it more than death. And it's a little bit scary that someone might fear dying more than they fear getting up in front of a group of people. But that's why you go in this safe group, you overcome, and they're all there to see you become successful." Recorded Live at ASTE 2023, Carm Capriotto welcomes Chris Cloutier, Craig O'Neill, Sara Fraser, and Tracy Capriotto, who are all Remarkable Results Toastmasters group members. They discuss the importance of effective communication, the value of joining Toastmasters to improve speaking skills, the benefits of feedback and evaluation in Toastmasters, the significance of timing in public speaking, and the need for better communication in the automotive industry. They also discuss generational differences and the challenges of relating and connecting with others. Discover how improving your speaking abilities can help you build relationships, lead with impact, and leave a lasting impression. Craig O’Neill, VP of Training, AutoFlow. Listen to Craig’s previous episodes HERE Chris Cloutier is co-owner of Golden Rule Auto Care in Dallas Texas and CEO of Autoflow. Chris’s previous episodes HERE Sara Fraser, Haas Performance Consulting, Sara’s previous episodes HERE. Show Notes: Communication and Toastmasters (00:01:41) Discussion about the relevance of communication skills and the creation of a virtual Toastmasters group called Remarkable Results Toastmasters. AI and its impact (00:02:07) Conversation about the potential benefits and concerns regarding AI technology and its effect on various industries, including the automotive industry. The importance of in-person communication (00:08:13) Discussion on the significance of maintaining personal connections despite advancements in technology. The value of communication in relationships (00:09:03) Highlighting the significance of phone calls and personal interactions in maintaining relationships and connections. Toastmasters Feedback and Learning (00:16:30) Discussion about the benefits of receiving feedback and coaching in Toastmasters, and how it helps members grow and learn. Maximizing Profit without Sacrificing Service (00:17:15) Exploration of how to increase profitability in an auto repair business while maintaining quality service. The Importance of Timing in Public Speaking (00:23:44) Conversation about the discipline of speaking within a designated time frame, with examples from Toastmasters. The importance of timing in presentations (00:24:52) Discussion on the significance of timing in presentations and the discipline it requires to effectively manage time during a class or training session. The role of effective communication in improving the industry's image (00:26:23) Exploration of how effective communication can help improve the reputation and image of the industry. The importance of connecting and relating (00:32:39) Discussion on the significance of better relating and connecting in the industry, particularly in terms of communication and mastering people skills. Challenges in connecting with the next generation (00:33:43) Exploration of the difficulties in connecting with the next generation in the industry and the need for relationship building and authentic experiences. Overview of Toastmasters meetings (00:37:08) Explanation of the structure and format of Toastmasters meetings, including introductions, planned speeches, evaluations, and the fun and beneficial table topics segment. The importance of effective communication during crisis (00:47:33) Discussion on the need for leaders to connect with people and ease tensions during times of crisis. The value of Toastmasters in improving speaking skills (00:48:33) Exploration of how Toastmasters can help individuals eliminate filler words like "ums" and "uhs" in their speech. The importance of practicing and learning to become a good speaker (00:49:52) Insights into the fact that great speakers, including lawyers, are not naturally born but have put in time and practice to improve their skills. Thanks to our Partners Shop-Ware and Delphi Technologies Shop-Ware: More Time. More Profit. Shop-Ware Shop Management https://getshopware.com/ Delphi Technologies: Keeping current on the latest vehicle systems and how to repair them is a must for today’s technicians. http://DelphiAftermarket.com Connect with the Podcast -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
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By Joe Marconi
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By carmcapriotto
Carm Capriotto introduces a special edition of Remarkable Results Radio featuring the Joe's Garage training bay at AAPEX that provides training and career opportunities this fall. Our panel discusses the unique opportunity at Joe's Garage, where they will bring together people from distribution, trainers, shop owners, and lead technicians to work on vehicles in real time. They also discuss the importance of quality parts, attracting the youth to the industry, professionalism, continuous learning, and the impact of attending AAPEX. They are passionate about the future of the automotive industry and encourage young talent to join.
Jason Rainey, Vice President, NAPA Auto Care. Jason’s previous episodes HERE
Dwayne Myers, Dynamic Automotive, 6 locations, Maryland. Dwayne’s previous episodes HERE. Frank Scandura, Frank’s European Service, Las Vegas, NV. Frank’s previous episodes HERE. Bill Nalu, Interstate Auto Care, Madison Heights, MI. Listen to Bill’s previous episodes HERE. Andy Bizub, Midwest Performance Cars, Chicago and Northbrook, IL. Andy’s previous episodes HERE. Vic Tarasik, CEO of Shop Owner Coach. Vic’s previous episodes HERE. Show Notes
The Training Bay at AAPEX (00:00:01) Discussion about Joe's Garage, a teaching and repairing opportunity at AAPEX, and the upcoming service awards. Bringing Industry Professionals Together (00:02:11) Explaining the unique opportunity at Joe's Garage to bring together people from distribution, teachers, shop owners, and lead technicians to work on vehicles. Benefits and Opportunities (00:04:15) Discussion about the benefits of attending AAPEX, including exposure for products, software demonstrations, and the opportunity to help veterans and educate the next generation. The push for skilled trades (00:08:48) Discussion about the opportunity and importance of skilled trades in the industry, and the potential career path for students. The bridge between generations (00:09:49) Exploring the role of experienced technicians and shop owners in mentoring and fostering the younger generation in the industry. Challenges of organizing the event (00:11:46) Discussion about the challenges faced in bringing together various industry stakeholders and working towards a common vision for the event. The importance of quality parts (00:16:47) Encouraging suppliers to make better parts to avoid returns and ensure customer satisfaction. The role of NAPA in the industry (00:17:20) Acknowledging NAPA's support and their understanding of the importance of selling good parts for good money. Promoting career opportunities in the automotive industry (00:18:40) Highlighting the various career paths available in the industry and the need to attract and retain young talent. The importance of introducing young talent to the automotive industry (00:24:56) Discussion on the value of encouraging young individuals, particularly sons, to pursue a career in the automotive industry. The professionalism and growth of the industry (00:26:36) Emphasis on the need for professionalism and growth within the automotive industry, and the role of events like Joe's Garage in promoting these values. The transformative impact of attending AAPEX (00:29:36) Personal testimonies on the transformative impact of attending AAPEX, including gaining knowledge, improving oneself, and discovering opportunities within the industry.
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 http://AAPEXSHOW.COM/WEBINAR
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 http://napatracs.com/
Connect with the Podcast:
-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
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