Over the next few months, you’ll notice an increasing emphasis on ATRA+ articles. It’s not so much that we’ve changed article focus, per se, but rather that some articles focus on diagnostics and qualify for that heading. A good example of this is the article by Sean Boyle on page 16. In addition, we’ll go back through past issues and tag them for ATRA+. This is great for the diagnostician on your team. It allows them to jump right to articles that pertain to their work. As we expand the ATRA University Project, tech schools can use these articles in their classrooms to help prepare the next generation of techs for their new career, perhaps in your shop.
This topic was inspired by a discussion with Malinda Barton, co-owner of Barton’s Transmission and Supply in Mabank, Texas. They’re also the subject of this month’s Shop Profile article on page 36. While Barton’s success over the years is admirable, it wasn’t their shop appearance or team spirit that got my attention, though that’s all noteworthy. Indeed, I think all the Shop Profile subjects over the years have had measurable and duplicatable standards and metrics other shop owners could follow.
This, though, had to do with workflow.
Efficiency with better results has always been my bailiwick, going back to my teens as a young rebuilder. Perhaps the worst example of “non-productivity” might be from a shop I worked at in 1989. It was the busiest shop I ever worked at (and perhaps, visited). Their parking lot was small for their work, so they had an auxiliary lot for about 50 cars up the road.
Sales were incredible, but the output was sad. The techs, including the rebuilders, spent much of the day pushing cars in and out of the bays or moving them to the auxiliary lot. The owner, an accountant by trade, couldn’t understand the bottom line. The answer: efficiency. Imagine if your rebuilder, a high-paid and highly-skilled person, spent their day pushing cars in and out of the bays. Or, for that matter, sweeping the floor all day. While this may sound like a lecture, it’s not. It opens up a new role; the Valet.
Malinda calls this a “stager,” but let’s use the term: Valet, for our discussion (Not to mention she preferred this title). The Valet is an entry-level position. We’ve all worked at entry-level and appreciate the opportunity (I earned $1.60 an hr at my first job).
So, what does the Valet do? It’s what we’ve covered over the last three issues and more. Let’s look at three phases of this:
Pre-work: Here, the Valet checks the fluid level (if applicable), battery voltage and does a visual inspection, looking for signs of body damage (One taillight looks different from the other. Having the wrong tail light bulb can affect converter clutch operation). Now the car is ready for a road test from a higher-paid tech.
Ready work: The Valet understands the workflow: who needs the car and on what lift. This is key. They move the cars to their appropriate lift and stage them for the R&R tech. Think about it? How many rebuilders have been sidetracked by some “important” problem and then forgotten where they left off on the rebuild. I know I have. Every rebuilder (including me) has forgotten something because they were out pushing a car.
Post-work: The Valet ensures the car is “right”; Ready for the customer. The Valet presents the customer with their car (removing the floor mat etc.) while the lady steps in. It’s an image charged by the Valet.
So, how about a Valet as your next hire? This is perfect for a twenty-something to get started in the industry. It’s a role that schools can teach, and ATRA can promote. Even better, plenty of young men and women love working on cars and want to be a part of this industry. When I think back on my career, I got a chance at 19 to work at a shop in Campbell, California. Al Perry hired me with no knowledge at all about transmissions. Back then, there were only about a dozen units, and every one of them was a mystery to me.
So, what will you do to help advance this industry? Make a change in your business and the life of a guy or gal who loves this work. And hey, you might just see a certification for “Valet” in the ATRA training module!