Fixed Ops Magazine 2024 Vol 21-3 - 46

Clear, full vision high-speed doors add an additional
safety feature for technicians when moving vehicles.
Having full visibility through a door as other vehicles
approach can prevent traffic jams in the entryway and
reduce the risk of fender benders. Additional safety
lighting and sensors can indicate when a person or
vehicle is approaching the overhead door.
COST JUSTIFICATION
the service lanes. This is a major factor in overall comfort.
Avoiding spikes in temperature makes it easier for
the service advisors to work as well as a more pleasant
experience for the customers.
HAPPY TECHNICIANS
Sweating or freezing all day in a poorly lit workshop
may seem like an inevitable part of an auto technician's
day. However, technicians deserve the same level of
comfort and respect as customers. A workshop with
natural light and more consistent temperatures will
help technicians be more productive and improve
job satisfaction. With such a tight labor market, every
additional employee benefit makes a difference in
whether technicians are willing to job hop for an extra
dollar per hour at the shop down the street.
OPTIMAL WORKFLOW
A smooth transition of vehicles in and out of the workshop
is essential to filling every service bay and maximizing
profit. The speed of the workshop's overhead
door can impact transition times and give workers the
satisfaction of higher productivity.
" If each technician waits 20 to 30 seconds for a traditional
door every time they enter or exit the workshop,
that equals about 2 minutes per repair order, "
according to Meissner. " A high-speed door cuts down
that time by 90%. At an average repair rate of 600
cars per week, a high-speed overhead door would
save one hour of productivity per day. Multiply that by
the hourly labor rate and you can see how that wasted
time adds up. "
46
SUMMARY
" A dealership's reputation is based on the entire customer
experience, and service is a big part of that, "
Meissner adds. " Instead of just focusing on selling cars,
more dealerships are considering the lifetime ownership
experience of the customer, and that means
investing in a better service environment. "
Michael Watkins, VP
Marketing for Rytec
High
Performance
Doors, has professional
experience in manufacturing,
professional
services, agency and
independent consulting
environments. At
Rytec, Watkins leads
the development of
website, digital/electronic, trade show, PR and dealer/
customer communications to support and drive ROI in
key vertical markets, including retail auto, parking, cold
storage, manufacturing/warehousing, transit and government.
Contact him at mwatkins@rytecdoors.com or
262.677.6271.
High-speed overhead doors, whether a full-vision style
or one with a standard aluminum panel design, are premium
capital expenses compared to traditional garage
doors. However, by calculating the reduced expenses
and potential increased throughput, the ROI is favorable.
Advanced overhead doors can reduce demands
for HVAC and artificial lighting, increase the number of
repeat customers and lessen worker turnover. These
lower expenses certainly justify the investment.
Fixed Ops Magazine 2024 Vol 21-3

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