Why having someone with the skills to manage your business technology is not an option but a requirement. I’m certain most of you have experienced challenges with technology from time to time. Whether it’s dealing with an update or a…
“I Love People, and I Help People. That’s What I Do.” Bob Wills did a lot more than fix a tire recently. He actually helped save the life and spirit of a discouraged Vietnam veteran. Wills, owner of Wills Auto…
As shop owners and managers, the busier we are, the better the business. But do you ever feel that something is happening, and you’re too busy to pay attention? You really need to pay attention. At the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers…
Panelists question why repairs limited to dealers only. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently held a one-day public workshop to explore competition and related issues in the context of state regulation of motor vehicle distribution and to promote more informed…
He’s a talented but belligerent tech, and he’s ruining the morale in the shop. What you can do to make peace. I was finally able to hire a tech that I had been chasing for a few years. His knowledge…
How to make your shop a success by making it the kind of place where you’d want to work. It’s no secret that we have an extreme shortage of competent people throughout our industry. As an employer, you’ve got to…
A multipronged diagnostic attack to resolve a rare problem led us to find out if we had a fuel-flow issue or a fuel-pressure issue. Relative compression is a fast way to ascertain if an engine has…
...What would you do? The following story comes from a shop in Southern California. The shop says: “We have a longtime client who has brought four cars to us over the years. We recently quoted a job, and he found…
If you don’t know, find out. Let workflow management work for you. Last time, we focused on creating a learning plan for your team and the position of Learning Manager to develop and drive this plan. Now, I want to…
Registration is now open for the Car Care Council Women’s Board 2016 Summer Leadership Conference. The day-and-a-half education and networking conference will be held July 27-28, 2016, at the Westin in Indianapolis, Ind. “The Women’s Board Leadership Conference is uniquely…
I had a customer walk into the shop the day I began writing this column. He owned an older car, with lots of miles on it. He wasn’t one of our regular customers, but…
When your buddy and his buddies want a ‘favor,’ say no. I didn’t go to a four-year college and come home with a degree like most of my six siblings. It wasn’t my style. I knew from the time I…
It will, if you focus on the details of your business and not just your problems. Consider committing to this plan for the next 90 days. It will really bring clarity to your position as owner/manager of the business. In…
Chasing down the cause of an underperforming blower motor sheds light on a solution that saves time and money. Using a wire diagram is better than just looking at the fuse panel. With a diagram, you…
... What would you do? The following story came from an ASA member with multiple stores. A customer dropped off her late-model Volkswagen Bug, claiming it needed a heater core. On inspection, it was determined that it did need one.…
Insurance committee considers ASA position on parts procurement bill. The Michigan legislature is back in session and has insurer-mandated parts procurement legislation on its agenda. Michigan State Sen. Joe Hune, R-22, chairman of the…
Which model year is easier to service: the 2011 or the 2016? I started my career as a motorcycle mechanic in the late 1960s. The local Honda shop needed a helper. After a day, I was hooked. I worked for…
If everyone’s playing the right part, your shop can be a great place to work. In a previous installment of Ready, Set Service! we discussed the creation of a service-ready training model that provided insight into the topic areas to…
