Go Back   DealershipForum.com > Domestic Franchises and Independent Dealers > Chrysler > Service

Notices

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 05-08-2014, 09:09 AM   #1
FixedOpsGuy
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 136
Default Breaking down the barriers between parts and service departments.

I would like input regarding an old idea that is starting to become somewhat common in larger stores....

...Closing down the "technician side" of the parts department.

I have seen this plan implemented at a large Toyota store, 50 techs, 6 parts advisors, 2 support staff still actually in the parts room running parts to the crew in the stalls.

I have seen stores that have the parts crew in the shop with a completely different title as "production manager"... dispatching tickets, billing out parts, helping with MPI inspections, loading parts on pre-RO's, tracking additional sales closing ratios, etc.... with their pay plan completely modified from "parts pay" to labor based.

I have seen stores where they only move 1 parts person to the shop handling express service...

And, I have seen the typical, parts person in the middle of the shop where all that is accomplished is that he is in the middle of the shop and the tech saves walking time.

Are there any stores out there that have implemented this new theory? What size is your store? what challenges did you face? How many stages did it take you?

I believe that this is truly cutting edge thinking. In the right shop, well implemented, it produces hours, sells more labor, makes people and departments more efficient, enhances communication with advisors and customers, increases closing ratios on up-sell attempts, provided better MPI inspections, etc....

Fixedopsguy
FixedOpsGuy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-08-2014, 10:57 AM   #2
tnpartsguy
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 506
Default

the FOD here wants to do that, but I'm against it (I'm a PM btw, but I've been a FOD before, just for background).

My main reason is simple, sometimes your tech's NEED to walk around, and I've actually helped a tech figure out an issue when we are looking up parts for a job, because he got away from his stall and the shop noise to actually THINK through the issue.

Secondary reasons are many - biggests ones are Service Advisors that are so afraid someone will 'steal' their jobs, that they write RO's instead of setting appointments....we pull the parts and they ......SIT....and sit...

Not enough parts employees now....(last month we sold over $225k with only 2 counter guys and me). Having enough trouble now trying to get things done in parts.
tnpartsguy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-08-2014, 12:16 PM   #3
XDCX
Administrator
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 14,869
Default

FixedOpsGuy - Great thread - I love hearing about different ways to increase productivity that have worked at other dealerships.

I'm tight on time at the moment so I'll only share a brief thought and then add more later.

I recall a dealership in Hawaii that had an odd physical layout where some of the tech stalls were almost 100 yards away from the parts counter. I encouraged the dealership to hire a "parts runner" so the technicians wouldn't have to waste their valuable time walking to the parts counter.

Ultimately the idea was implemented and then failed. It's not that it was a bad idea, it was just poorly implemented and there was no "buy-in" from the employees. The Service Manager reported that the time the techs used to spend walking to the parts counter was replaced by standing in their stalls drinking coffee and waiting for parts.

Bottom line - In my opinion any system you want to install to improve productivity should be reviewed with the employees beforehand and adjusted so they feel some sense of "ownership" for the idea and will work to see it succeed instead of standby to watch it fail.
XDCX is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Does your Dealership use an Electronic Menu Board for Service and Parts? XDCX Automotive Discussions 14 03-03-2014 07:07 AM
Chrysler Regional Parts/Service Reps JoeRocket Parts 6 03-18-2011 07:35 PM
OK, so who's going to have their sales departments open this Sunday? JoeRocket Automotive Discussions 17 12-25-2010 06:22 PM
Dirty SA (Service Advisor altering parts prices on Repair Orders) vseries Automotive Discussions 5 07-22-2010 12:20 PM
How to Market your Service/Parts ohiobuckeyes Automotive Discussions 0 02-10-2010 01:52 PM


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 01:00 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.5
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright DealershipForum.com - 2008 - 2016