that my wiser alternative was that I had to make my own Techs better. But I was already heavily engaged in ongoing training. What more could I do to help them improve? The answer: I needed (as do you) to remove obstacles slowing them down. They were like potholes in workflow that were slowing productivity. There is no big answer here that flipped my department overnight. But there were many small answers to my challenge that added up to big-time savings. Challenge yourself to find 20 small-time saving tips that will help your staff. When you do, you will cut days out of your time-to-line or cycle time. Your Techs will have bigger paychecks (they will like that!) and your net profit will respond positively. Here is a shortlist of just some of the things I did. One of them, the cart, brought me a 9% increase in production alone. * Add phones to Technician stalls. (No more running up to find an estimator/advisor.) * Stripe the floor in the shop with parking stalls. (Tech's stick cars anywhere and sideways. By striping the floor, we helped them move vehicles in and out without interrupting anyone to move another car that might be in the way.). * Move the detail bay so it is a straight shot in and out from the overhead door. (My policy expense also dropped as a result of fewer accidents.) * Put in a complete onsite backup of shop supplies. Techs only stop working for two reasons - to retrieve parts/supplies and when they need information.) * Load the carts with all the supplies the Techs need. * Task a Supply Sergeant to keep the carts stocked. This includes opening packaging and loading the cart not just dropping the supplies on the bench for the Tech to deal with the supplies. Techs will not deal with them and you will end up with an expensive mess. * Choose products that will make the Tech efficient. A cheap product that does not deliver will cost you labor hours. You will lose way more in labor time than you will save on the product. * Even if your Techs are pros, ask the manufacturer or jobber rep to provide training on using the products. You will find that Techs almost always use too much product. That simultaneously kills production * Purchase multiple vacuums for the detail bay so by creating more to clean up and murders your ma- detailers do need not to drag the vacuum from one terial budget. I am a huge 3M advocate and a little side of the vehicle to the other. This wastes time and of their product goes much further than a lot of an vacuum hoses scratch the paint. off brand. Here is the big tip: Organize supplies for each Tech for their work area. I * All Techs need to use the same Challenge yourself to put these carts in my shop and saw a 9% increase in production hours. The supplies should be taken to the Tech and not the other way around. At a 9% production increase, you will earn back your investment in mere weeks. And your Tech will thank you for it. MARCH APRIL 2021 || FIXED OPS MAGAZINE find 20 small-time brand of supplies. If they are not comfortable with the brand you have chosen, the manufacturer or jobber rep will solve that when they provide the training. saving tips that will help your staff. Before you run down to the local home store and save $400 by purchasing a generic cart thinking you 17