Who Does What?
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…
Columns
Tuneups May/June 2016
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…
Never Relax Your Standards
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…
Supplier vs. Partner?
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…
Will It Be All Right?
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…
Low Blow Suburban
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…
Customer was quoted a price for three jobs, but afterward claimed she had only authorized one of them…
... 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.…
Michigan Legislature Has a Mandate on Its Mind
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…
Serviceability Report: Honda CR-V
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…
Calling the Role
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…
Tuneups March/April 2016
Book Your Hotel Now for NACE | CARS Have you heard the expression, “Get a room!” That’s what the planners of NACE | CARS 2016 are advising you to do – the sooner the better. This year’s edition of the…
The Positive Power of Teamwork
Hello, ASA members! It’s been a busy first of the year for the ASA board, our operations committees and our awesome ASA staff. You’ve probably heard that we’re launching new regional training programs. We had a great time recently in…
Tune Ups - Jan/Feb 2016
Recycled Rides: In the Spirit of the Season ’Twas the season for giving. And ASA members across the nation were donating their time and money to ensure that needy people have transportation. LaMettry’s Collision restored a…
A Sobering Thought
Why you don’t want to double down on a first-time hiring mistake. Regret “giving away” that Joe DiMaggio rookie card? Investing in that spaghetti farm? Getting married? We’ve all made a bad decision or two in life. And, hopefully, we…
The Real Math
What does it cost your business when employees don’t do their jobs? You won’t believe it. Many shop owners look at operating expenses and attack that topic as the main cost-reduction plan to increase their bottom line. The fact is,…
Game Plan: Toyota MR2
The first shop gave up. So did the second, third and fourth. So what did we say when it wound up in our shop? Bring it on. A sporty little MR2 like this showed up at…
Instead of paying his collision repair bill in full, this customer wants to pay it out in installments of $100 a month…
...What would you do? The following comes from a collision shop in Central California. This shop is located in a small town where almost everyone knows one another. The shop says: “A repeat customer had his Mustang convertible towed into…
EPA Finalizes New Ozone Standards
How will it impact automotive repair shops? The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized its new air quality standards for ground level ozone. The level had been established at 75 parts per billion…
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