Every Claim Is Not the Same
Insurance companies have led most consumers and shop owners to believe there’s no difference between first- and third-party claims – even though entirely different sets of laws and rules apply. And these differences can affect every aspect of your shop, from job scheduling to parts selection to liability to profitability.
Stacking the Odds In His Favor
Leonard Lassak’s pancake philosophy.
United We Stand: On September 11th, the United States Stood Up
“Only through peril and great upheavals can a Nation be brought to further development. May the present upheaval lead to a better world.” — Albert Einstein
Repeat Yourself: Produce the Same Operation Repeatedly and Consistently
“Standardization” isn’t about cloning shops. It’s about having the ability to produce the same operation repeatedly and consistently so it can be audited. Why go to the trouble? Implementation of such standards will improve profitability and quality, reduce cycle time and chaos that keeps you busy putting out fires – but hinders you from getting anything done.
Getting Savvy With E-Commerce
E-commerce. A lot of people talk about it, but what does it mean to your business?
I’m Just a Bill: How a Bill Becomes a Law
Remember the Saturday morning “School House Rock” clip about how a bill becomes a law? Consider this article the adult version, in which you’ll learn how the legislative process works and how the government’s actions affect your shop.
Why No One Wants Smart Kids to Become Repairers
“Why do our best students get pushed to go to college when we know that only 25 percent of all college graduates go on to employment in their field? Meanwhile, trades are overlooked. How can the collision industry compete with white collar, high-tech industries?” – Dan McClellan, autobody instructor, Great Johnstown Vocational Technical School, Johnstown, Pa
(Cycle) Time Is On His Side
A wanna-be basketball star in a revolutionary’s body, consolidator Jon McNeill has plans for the collision repair industry.
Off With the Parts!
Shuffling new parts from metal department to paint department and back again is beginning to show its age. Though industry critics insist painting parts off the car isn’t a practical alternative, some production shops disagree – and have the reduced cycle times and increased profits to prove it.
Building a Case for Industrialization
When your competition industrializes their operations, their production efficiency will improve dramatically – possibly 37 to 50 percent in a single shift. With such fierce competition, can you afford to continue doing something because “that’s the way we’ve always done it”?