Time is money in the service department. Every minute a vehicle is in a bay and a technician is turning a wrench on it, productivity — and profit — potentially grows.
Almost every automaker offers a large portfolio of approved tools that meet its own repair standards and improve shop efficiency. But that hasn't stopped dealers from looking elsewhere for innovative equipment.
Some fixed ops directors have created their own tools — or modified the ones they've bought — in their quest to eliminate unproductive time clocked by technicians. These items might shave just a few minutes off a job, but those minutes add up in high-volume shops, especially when they're spread over many bays. And technicians who work on the flat-rate pay system love timesaving tools.
In our travels since the launch of Fixed Ops Journal in 2016, we've visited many dealership service departments and listened to how they have worked to boost productivity. Tools and equipment have played a major role in helping to reduce service customers' waiting time.
At some dealerships, an oil change can be done in five minutes or less. At others, tire tread and alignment data is collected before customers even get out of their vehicles.
Here's a look at five items that are helping dealerships efficiently service a growing number of vehicles.
