Teams in Collision Repair
Lets move away from a static working environment that is predictable and implement a team system that rewards growth.
Collision repair is a traditional business:
Body
Prep
Paint
Detail
With traditional compensation
Flat Rate
Commission
Hourly
Salary
and predictable Profits, Hours and Sales.
This is an alternative lets change the Game
Vehicles are built by teams - Ford, Toyota, Mercedes Benz etc. In a team, only those committed to excellent are hired and remain part of the team.
Meaning Of Team
“A team is a small number of people with complementary skills who are committed to a common purpose, performance, goal and approach for which they are mutually accountable” by (Katzanbach and Smith)
In Teams individuals don’t work alone
Obstacles to Production Teams
· Misunderstanding
· Fear of change
· Loss of income
· Attitude
· Not a team player
The Success of a Production Team depends on COMMUNICATION!
Synergy
“The working together of two or more parties when the result is greater than the sum of their individual efforts or capabilities”.
The Benefits of a Production Team is: an increase in Productivity, Sales and Profits.
A panel of three repairers… I can’t quite remember the panelist names that went on the podium but I do remember one gentleman by the name of Tom Bissonnette (Per Auto Body –Saskatoon) very flamboyant and cheerful individual from what I could see, he actually sat in front of my row of tables. If I wasn’t so intimidated by being at CCIF I probably would of said hi. Bissonnette has an interesting article – Technicians need more than recognition in the January 2008 Collision Repair Magazine (Issue 6 No. 6). The panelists talked about their experience when implementing production teams into their companies, all three panelists had different experiences but the final result was ideal.
This presentation to the introduction of Production Teams by (Michel Guerette) has got too be the most practicable and workable solution addressing repairs overall business goal (Profit) that I have heard since the twenty five years I have be in the auto collision industry.
The inability for repairs to recognize the fortitude of production teams will come at the cost of their profitability. I have been playing sports all my life and completely understand the philosophy behind a team administration and production repair environment. I also have a strong belief that all collision industry participants should adopt this TEAM philosophy to capture market opportunities not yet ventured.
11:30 Rocco Niglia (The Economical Insurance Group) took the podium speaking about – Leadership…or lack of it in a Multi-Generational Workforce. His presentation touched on the differences between yesterdays and today’s generation. The kids of today are more informative, smarter and multitasking they want things done now not tomorrow and if you can’t address their needs they are not wasting their time and moving on.
In order for repairs to survive in the long run they must forget about how you used to do things back in the day “leave that for dinner conversation or stories for the grandchildren” repairers have to adopt new ways on attracting apprentices and retaining techs.
12:30 the first part of the CCIF meeting is now over and lunch is called. They have set up two rooms for guest to have launch that’s sponsored by “Rockwood Learning Solutions Inc. Before I head of to launch I make my way over to Michel Guerette and commend him on his innovative and insightful requirements for the auto collision industry. We talked for a good 10 minutes very optimistic conversation… before we could conclude our conversation Mike Bryan (CCIF administrator) came over and shook hands with Michel and at that time I introduced my self. I obviously had already made an impression on Mike because he new my name saying… “Oh your Don Bailey”, I let him know “my interest for coming here today was primarily to find out for my self what direction this industry is heading in, listening to other people about what’s going on in the industry is Okay, but there comes a time when you have to take responsibility and interest for your own direction” and come see for your self, he nodded with approval and I left for lunch.
It was a buffet style lunch serving mildly warm lasagna, salad and your choice of coffee or water for refreshments. There were two eating areas one to the right and one to the near left... that’s the one I chose, I made my way over to the closest table to the door. I asked the gentleman at the table if this seat was taken; he gestated no and pulled the chair out for me. A little while after that a lady who used to be a repairer and now is marketing management software in the collision industry came and sat down next to my left. We had a nice lunch conversation on the various styles of production teams repairers can intermix.
After eating my lunch I found my self-wondering around looking for some conversation, so I stopped a very modest gentleman working by and said hi, he asked me if I new him, I said no and introduced my self, he introduced him self as Mike the editor of Collision Repair Magazine. I then said, that’s interesting I just got an email from Darryl
On 1/22/08, Collision Repair Magazine
Hi Don,
I came across your blog this morning and am impressed with your desire
to help the industry.
Collision Repair magazine is committed to helping as well and I was
wondering if you were interested in writing a column in our magazine
from the Tech's perspective.
Please let me know.
Darryl
www.collisionrepairmag.com
RE: Blog post
From: don bailey (travelpapers@hotmail.com)
Sent: January 22, 2008 10:50:53 PM
To: Collision Repair Magazine (publisher@collisionrepairmag.com)
Security scan upon download
Auto Body...doc (25.1 KB)
Hi Darrell, I would be pleased to write a column from my prospective as a tech in the Canadian Auto Collision Industry.
It’s very interesting that you contact me, because I was extended the opportunity in 2005 by Rosanna Armata of Collision Industry Action Group (CIAG) to submit an article to you that I wrote in 2000.
The article “The Auto Body Trend” was written for Lowell Conn of Body Shop magazine at his request but it never got published. My Intension in the coming months was to publish the article and the drama be hide it not getting published on my web site or blog.
I know time has lapsed since I wrote the article, I can certainly say my views of the industry has changed but the industry over all remains the same actually as much as it can after eight years.
The fact that you have contacted me tells me the universe has spoken so now I’m allowing you the opportunity to publish the article first.
Now keep in mind that Lowell Conn asked me to write this article and he could not get it published due to the fact “ the article was not in line with their advertisers”.
I believe the article can seem a little edgy… however it is, what it is.
Find article attached
Sincerely,
Don
I replied to his email and I’m waiting to here from him…is he here today because I’ve never met him. As we were talking about Darryl, he turns the corner and pops up in front of us (the universe of probability) so Mike introduces him to me. Darryl was in rush so we didn’t have enough time to really talk but he let me know we should keep in contact.
Mike and I continued our conversation, he gives me his business card and he talks about Bodyworx a new magazine that will be coming out soon for them, its hush hush but from what he did say it sounded very tomorrow. The bell chimes and its time to start the second half of the CCIF meeting.
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