Changing bumper repairs is only part of what CollisionQuest does.
Check this out; This is really a cool new tool.
Changing bumper repairs is only part of what CollisionQuest does.
Check this out; This is really a cool new tool.
Best product + Best price = Shop profits
“Going lean” has been all the rage among collision repair consultants
over the past decade. Lean production in a body shop is aimed
at eliminating waste and disorganization in the repair process.
Going lean focuses on reducing cycle time to make a body shop
more productive, efficient and (hopefully) profitable. In addition to
squeezing out higher profits, the benefits of lean production can
be improved quality, enhanced customer service, and improved
employee satisfaction.
But what if lean is not enough? Are there additional profits to be
found in your shop? What is the next step beyond lean? Once you’ve
trimmed all the fat from your shop’s production process in order to
save time and reduce waste, the next step is to start reducing direct
costs. The hard part is to do so without jeopardizing quality and
customer service.
One of the biggest area of potential savings will be found in the
products and equipment you use. We all know that there is a wide
range of prices for essentials such as paint & materials, spray
booths, lifts, spray guns, frame machines, welding units and other
items you use every day. There is also a wide range in quality, which
is where the danger comes in.
Price vs. Value
Have you ever been enticed to switch suppliers on a particular
product with the promise of saving time and money, only to find that
you saved neither? Ever regretted buying a low-cost alternative
when it failed to perform? How can you judge
in advance whether or not a product or piece of
equipment will live up to expectations?
The optimal situation is to get the best product at the
best value. Notice that I did not write “best price.”
Value is a combination of price and performance. You
may spend top dollar for a piece of equipment only to
find that it does not work any better than a lower cost
alternative. Similarly, you might try to save money by
buying the lowest cost materials but discover that the
cheap paint does not cover like a better product, or that
the energy costs on that bargain spray booth eat up all
your savings.
Buying strictly on low price is a sure way to be
disappointed, or worse. So is buying on reputation
alone. You need to do your homework on every single
item in your shop to make sure it is delivering the
maximum value. Research all purchases, even those
that may seem trivial. For example, a roll of masking
tape is a low cost item. But if each roll you buy of an
cheaper tape gives you 10% less tape, your technicians
are going to become frustrated and you are going to
need to buy more rolls over the course of the year.
Do Your Homework Before Buying
Don’t go just by a company’s sales literature or a
magazine ad, or even the promises of a sales person.
Do your own research by talking to other shop owners
who are using the products or equipment you are
considering. If you belong to a shop network get
feedback from other members. If possible, run a trial of
new paint or materials before committing. Do the same
with larger equipment purchases by asking to see the
spray booth, lift or frame machine in action.
If you do decide to purchase new equipment don’t be
sold on bells & whistles you don’t need. Determine your
specific uses in advance and buy only what you need to
meet them. Try to package related equipment, such as
spray booths with compressors, for reduced pricing on
each piece.
Be smarter about how you buy the materials and
equipment you use in your shop and you’ll soon realize
that steady profits don’t come from always taking the
least expensive alternative. It is the long term value of
your purchases that adds up to a stronger bottom line.
In an effort to create consumer awareness as to why people choose the repair shops they do, CollisionQuest has started a consumer awareness campaign. Many people put little thought into where they get their car fixed, even though in many cases this is their 1st to 2nd largest investment. There should be several aspects factored in to which repair shop you choose.
For those of you that prefer to watch on YouTube here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsCA7NMd5WE
While CollisionQuest has focused its consulting work on all aspects of the collision industry. This campaign is focused more on the consumer. CollisionQuest will continue to work with companies in the collision industry both nationally and internationally to bring synergy to the forefront. This will be accomplished by our development of an in-depth process and a universal language within the companies we work with. Using a common goal and message CollisionQuest has had great success, which we are now applying to our consumer awareness campaign.