LEAN & MEANER: Building a Lean Front Office
You’ll find that the greatest opportunity for eliminating waste in the collision repair business exists not on the shop floor but rather up front in the office. Here’s how to do it.
SUPER TECHNOLOGY ISSUE: Airbag Basics
Airbags, along with other components of safety restraint systems, are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and misinformation is spreading like wildfire. Here’s the real deal on what you need to know to restore them to OEM standards.
SUPER TECHNOLOGY ISSUE: Pedal to the Metal
Carmakers are introducing exotic metals to vehicle
structures at an alarming rate for the sake of fuel efficiency and passenger safety. Understanding their properties is key to quality repairs.
EDITOR’S NOTES: Who’s Our Character?
She’s perky and cute and has hot pink hair. She’s nimble and acrobatic as a secret agent uncovering auto insurance discounts. And even though she’s not real, rumor has it she’s charmed hundreds of young men into proposing marriage to her. That’s right, I’m talking about Erin Esurance, the animated pitchwoman for, you guessed it,
PUBLISHER’S PERSPECTIVE: Take a Chance on Change
If you’ve read any of my previous columns, you know that the recurring theme has been to plan for change and not be afraid of it. I read many columns in periodicals related to my interests and often wonder why there’s no follow-up to advice given or outcomes on upcoming events. So I feel that
TECH TIPS: A/C Service Guidelines for GM Hybrids
As more hybrid vehicles start filtering into collision repair facilities, you and your staff will need to focus on the many procedures manufacturers provide to properly handle and repair them. Aside from the complex electrical systems on these vehicles, each one may have a unique mechanical system. For instance, what we may have thought was
TECH FEATURE: Illuminating Aluminum
Aluminum is a different animal than steel. As it becomes more prevalent in vehicle construction, repairers will need the training and tools to
perform quality and safe repairs.
PROFIT CENTER: Going for Broke
Some shops still find installing glass a profitable endeavor. But it’s not easy when you want to perform the highest quality job possible.
SEPTEMBER COVER STORY: Crash and Spurn
Auto repairs rank among the highest incidences of
consumer complaints in nearly every state. How can this be if insurers that perform post-repair inspections are doing those inspections well?
Eliminate Yourself and Add $50,000 to the Bottom Line
I have a solution to increasing insurance pressure, increasing costs and dwindling profits: Eliminate yourself.
TECH FEATURE: No Raw Deal Here
Refinishing raw, unprimed bumper covers is more involved than refinishing primed ones. You can do a quality job by following certain steps, but you need to charge for the additional labor.
POINT-COUNTERPOINT: Should Labor Rate Surveys Be Abolished?
YES By Lee Amaradio Jr. A labor rate survey’s intended purpose is to establish a starting point so labor rate negotiations can begin. It’s intended to create a floor to build upon, not create labor rate caps. Today, it’s not serving any purpose other than keeping costs down for insurance companies. The major problem with
