Redefining Diagnostics
Not only are long-term employees retiring faster than young ones are being hired, but the technological advances on newer vehicles become standard so rapidly that current techs are struggling to stay on top of them.
Features
When the industry goes all-electric
It is 30 years from now, 2048, and most vehicles are battery-powered electric cars. The fuel cell was tried, but the infrastructure was never built out. So the few fuel-cell cars from the 2020s are sitting behind repair shops, and…
The Remote-Control Owner: Can your business operate without you?
Can your business operate without you? As I began investigating how shop owners felt about this topic, I discovered that not everyone thinks the same. The answers I received ranged from “Yes” to “No” to “Wouldn’t that be nice!” One…
The Boss’s Kids
In a perfect world, as owners, we all dream of running a successful business. We strive to work hard, hire great employees, provide the best benefits possible, have great customers, make a profit, give back to the community, enjoy family…
Greenwood: Supplier vs. Partner?
It’s critical today, in measuring shop finances, to break down the revenue and examine the type of revenue coming through the door. But most shops just measure parts and labor, and then look at their bank balance to see what…
WWYD: Employee manual prohibits it, but employees request 'overlapping' vacation days
A shop owner from Chicago writes: How do you balance what is written in your employee manual vs. the needs of your customers and your employees? My employee manual states that no employee can take more than five days of…
Sweating the Details: How working on the business & treating customers right drive Colorado shop’s success
ASA-member shop owners always…
Electrical malfunctions give diagnostic detective learning opportunities for repair possibilities
Early on in my youth, I began wondering why things didn’t work as intended: my bike’s chain derailleur, our lawn mower, mom and dad’s Rambler wagon. Decades…
Redding: What’s next with AV policy?
Recent congresses have not been known for bipartisan initiatives. Unique to this analysis has been this fall’s autonomous vehicle (AV) legislation. The U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee passed a package of 14 separate bills, titled the SELF DRIVE Act…
A Brave New Mindset
Every industry needs to prepare for its next generation of employees, which, ideally, continually flows in. The collision repair industry currently faces an aging population in several ways.
Peevy: Drive your success with not-so-obvious ways to create sustainable competitive advantage
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Schnepper: Praising ASA’s strength... our members!
Happy New Year! I hope your holidays were filled with family, friends and fun. Last year was a time of change for the Automotive Service Association (ASA), and those changes continue. We welcomed Dana, Ben and Ashley (see page 4)…
Oakes: Expect the unexpected
There are many “horror stories” that take place in the automotive industry. I mean, those that are fanned by media sensationalism. Just take your pick and run with a topic: “Woman accuses shop of stripping oil pan drain plug and…
Greenwood: The Shop Labor Mix
The advancement of vehicle technology will make a dramatic difference in measuring a typical service shop business, and the aftermarket must relearn its measurements. In previous articles, I’ve written that a typical shop owner will require six to eight days…
WWYD: Customer complains he could have gotten part cheaper
A first-time customer, who was referred by another customer, came in with a Nissan Pathfinder that had a driver’s window that wouldn’t work. After removing the door panel and testing the switch, wiring and motor, it was determined that the…
A Legacy Preserved: Growing up in family business gave California owner tools he needed to put customers first
Summers, working in his father’s shop, created many happy memories for Bryan Welsh, owner of Artistic Collision…
Serviceability Report: 2018 Chevy Bolt vs. 2018 Tesla Model 3
In 2011, I wrote about the Nissan Leaf and compared it to the Chevy Volt. Since then, ACDC bought one of each, so we know them well. But a…
Schnepper: Never too late for training
In the mid-1970s when I graduated from high school, young people who wanted to go into a profession went to college. Those who wanted to go into a trade didn’t need college. They just needed to get a job and…
