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Fact or Fingers - What's more important


Gonzo

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Growing up around repair shops I was always curious as to how the old guy took things apart and made them work again. I was too young to know whether or not he was doing it right or if he was just goofing around, but when I went back to the shop that job was gone and a new car was in its place, so he must have done something, somehow.

 

As I grew older I noticed a trend to just replace the parts rather than repair them. This transition from repair to replace seem to me to be part of the evolution of car repair. By the time the 'swap til' ya got it' routine came along (which by my recollection would be early 80's) every DIY'r was in on it too.

 

These days, we still have a few DIY'rs hanging onto the parts swap routine, and I still get a few used car lot mechanics and other repair shops that fall into the same category who bring cars in to my shop that they've slapped different modules or PCM's in and then ended up with a worse problem then they started with.

 

I think the next evolution of automotive repair is definitely diagnostics with electronic devices such as a scanner or scope. I doubt it will knock the DIY'r or the slap it on mechanic out of the garage... yet....but it's coming to that.

 

It's just another transition just waiting to evolve.

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It's definitely more replace then repair today with respect to electronics. This does not mean you need to know less about how it works. With modules controlling lot's in most cases you end up getting to the bad part that much sooner and in the long run a faster repair!

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      It always amazes me when I hear about a technician who quits one repair shop to go work at another shop for less money. I know you have heard of this too, and you’ve probably asked yourself, “Can this be true? And Why?” The answer rests within the culture of the company. More specifically, the boss, manager, or a toxic work environment literally pushed the technician out the door.
      While money and benefits tend to attract people to a company, it won’t keep them there. When a technician begins to look over the fence for greener grass, that is usually a sign that something is wrong within the workplace. It also means that his or her heart is probably already gone. If the issue is not resolved, no amount of money will keep that technician for the long term. The heart is always the first to leave. The last thing that leaves is the technician’s toolbox.
      Shop owners: Focus more on employee retention than acquisition. This is not to say that you should not be constantly recruiting. You should. What it does means is that once you hire someone, your job isn’t over, that’s when it begins. Get to know your technicians. Build strong relationships. Have frequent one-on-ones. Engage in meaningful conversation. Find what truly motivates your technicians. You may be surprised that while money is a motivator, it’s usually not the prime motivator.
      One last thing; the cost of technician turnover can be financially devastating. It also affects shop morale. Do all you can to create a workplace where technicians feel they are respected, recognized, and know that their work contributes to the overall success of the company. This will lead to improved morale and team spirit. Remember, when you see a technician’s toolbox rolling out of the bay on its way to another shop, the heart was most likely gone long before that.
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