For The Record - Archive

For The Record - Archive

By Carm Capriotto, AAPBusinessMarketingManagement
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For The Record - Archive episodes

  • FTR 064: Mike Davidson – Where to Find Apprentices for Your Shop

    Mike Davidson is from Parkway Automotive in Little Rock, Arkansas, been in the industry for more than 30 years  and a business owner for over 18. Mike is an AMI graduate, an ASE Master Technician, he belongs and contributes to Elite Worldwide and was recognized as the Arkansas NAPA/ASE tech of the year seven years in a row.  He’s been doing radio and TV over the last fifteen years talking ‘service’ in Little Rock. Mike helped start the Little Rock chapter of ASA and is currently an officer. Look for Mike’s other episode HERE.

    Key Talking Points:

    • Biggest need in the industry- tech shortage
    • Marketing- what are you doing to promote a positive outlook about being in the industry?
    • There are people who like the criteria of what it takes to join the aftermarket
    • Mike has been doing apprentices since 2012
    • Where do we find apprentices?
      • Homeschool industry interested in skilled trades, students are used to working in a structured environment. Sign up with Facebook groups/attend book fairs/ad in yearbooks
      • Students working on their own since five years old and obeying their parents for a long time
      • They have been working in a structured environment
      • You’ve got to have a structured apprentice program so these parents get a chance to review it


        • A special thanks to Mike Davidson for his contribution to the aftermarket.
        • Books mentioned in the content library HERE
        • Leave me an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help and I read each one of them.
        • Email Carm HERE.

        •  

           

          Be socially involved and in touch with the show:

          Facebook   Twitter   Linked In   Email    Events   Instagram   Speaking

          Subscribe to a free mobile listening app HERE.

          This episode is brought to you by FlexCheck Auto Digital Vehicle Inspection Software.

          Savvy shop owners use vehicle inspections to find additional work on a vehicle that the vehicle owner may not know is needed. The most successful shop owners fully inspect every car, every time. It benefits the vehicle owner more than the shop because most vehicle owners want their autos to be reliable.

          FlexCheck Auto takes the power of a shop’s inspection process and puts it in the palm of your technician’s hand so that pictures, video, and vehicle specific notes about a vehicle’s condition can be shared quickly with vehicle owners. It improves technician efficiency in the bays, service writer efficiency at the counter, increases average repair order and builds trust with vehicle owners.

          Today’s vehicle owners want to receive their vehicles health status electronically, this makes FlexCheck Auto the most transparent way to do sell auto repair. Try it for free for 30 days! Go to FlexCheckAuto.com to learn more.

          7 min
        • FTR 063: Matt Fanslow – What The Aftermarket Can Learn From Reality TV Business Shows

          Matt Fanslow is the diagnostic tech/shop manager at Riverside Automotive in Red Wing, MN.  His primary responsibilities are to diagnose driveability and electrical/electronic issues, and perform most all programming, coding, initializing, adoptions, etc. Basically, if it needs to be figured out or has wires, it goes to Matt. He’s been a tech since 1996.

          Matt is also a subject matter expert for ASE and has instructed at Vision Hi-Tech Training and Expo.

          Matt has participated on 18 ASE technical committees for the ASE Practice Test, A6, A7, A8, and L1 tests. He’s also done case studies for Standard Motor Products.

          Fanslow’s goal is to do everything in his power to improve the overall level of professionalism within the automotive and light truck repair trade and also raise the level of its public image.  Matt Fanslow’s Previous Episodes HERE.

          Ever watch a reality TV show that covers a business make-over or purchase? Feel like you empathize with the owner? Do you know deep in your heart that what you are doing isn’t working?  Ever feel you are digging a hole and it is getting deeper? Do you know specificially which challenges you need to overcome first? Where do you start?… People, Processes or Product. Catch the banter between Matt Fanslow and me – For The Record.

          Key Talking Points:

          • Ever find yourself yelling at the TV because the owners don’t get it
            • No commonsense
            • Passion to play their hobby but not run a business

            • Sometimes you can see yourself in those episodes and can relate to the problems you have
            • Use these shows to make a pivot in your life. Learn from them.
            • Don’t go into denial if you see yourself
            • Many people (employees of the business) who have given up re-invent themselves because they see a re-newed business and culture
            • Matt sees an aftermarket parallel to the restaurant business
              • The kitchen brigade is like our auto technicians. They are generating repaired vehicles
              • Communication breakdown and quality drops
              • Attention to detail of the entire experience

              • Leadership is a major reason businesses flourish

                • A special thanks to Matt Fanslow for his contribution to the aftermarket.
                • Books mentioned in the content library HERE
                • Leave me an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help and I read each one of them.
                • Email Carm HERE.

                •  

                   

                  Be socially involved and in touch with the show:

                  Facebook   Twitter   Linked In   Email    Events   Instagram   Speaking

                  Subscribe to a free mobile listening app HERE.

                   

                  This episode is brought to you by FlexCheck Auto Digital Vehicle Inspection Software.

                  Savvy shop owners use vehicle inspections to find additional work on a vehicle that the vehicle owner may not know is needed. The most successful shop owners fully inspect every car, every time. It benefits the vehicle owner more than the shop because most vehicle owners want their autos to be reliable.

                  FlexCheck Auto takes the power of a shop’s inspection process and puts it in the palm of your technician’s hand so that pictures, video, and vehicle specific notes about a vehicle’s condition can be shared quickly with vehicle owners. It improves technician efficiency in the bays, service writer efficiency at the counter, increases average repair order and builds trust with vehicle owners.

                  Today’s vehicle owners want to receive their vehicles health status electronically, this makes FlexCheck Auto the most transparent way to do sell auto repair. Try it for free for 30 days! Go to FlexCheckAuto.com to learn more.

                  16 min
                • FTR 062: Rena Rennebohm – Stop Hiring Me To Fix Your Business From the Front Counter

                  Rena Rennebohm is CEO and Creator of Empowered Advisor.

                  With over 20 years of experience in the automotive industry, Rena has always had a passion for helping people. As a Service Advisor, she found every way possible to improve and utilize her skills. Implementing new techniques with basic fundamentals gave Rena the ability to become one of the most sought after Trainers and Coaches in our field.

                  Dedicating her time training Service Advisors with one-on-one calls, webinars, and classes is what she lives for. With high energy and understanding, rapid and continued improvement has been shown across the board from her clients.

                  Listen to Rena’s previous episodes HERE.

                   

                  Key Talking Points:

                  • Stop hiring me to change your business. She is there to enhance customer service. Their business management profit issues need to be placed in the hands of a business coach
                  • She is a change agent for the service advisor, not the business
                  • Too much pressure on the advisor to change the business. Not their responsibility
                  • This training will not change the core of the business
                  • Service advisor coaches support the owner at their counter. A strong third party to drive sales results
                  • Service advisor training can discover if the role is or isn’t right for them. Some leave and some are asked to leave because they cannot make the cut. Therefore the value of not keeping a marginal advisor on the counter. Rena sees the potential tenure (good fit) of the advisor within 30 -90 days
                  • An owner can get into the way of training transfer because they get in the way of training and new systems 
                  • Not enough shop owners are committed to this type of training
                  • One on one service advisor training is relatively new. A weekly call brings up the accountability to the training and results  

                    • A special thanks to Rena Rennebohm for her contribution to the aftermarket.
                    • Books mentioned in the content library HERE
                    • Leave me an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help and I read each one of them.
                    • Email Carm HERE.

                    •  

                       

                      Be socially involved and in touch with the show:

                      Facebook   Twitter   Linked In   Email    Events   Instagram   Speaking

                      Subscribe to a free mobile listening app HERE.

                       

                      This episode is brought to you by FlexCheck Auto Digital Vehicle Inspection Software.

                      Savvy shop owners use vehicle inspections to find additional work on a vehicle that the vehicle owner may not know is needed. The most successful shop owners fully inspect every car, every time. It benefits the vehicle owner more than the shop because most vehicle owners want their autos to be reliable.

                      FlexCheck Auto takes the power of a shop’s inspection process and puts it in the palm of your technician’s hand so that pictures, video, and vehicle specific notes about a vehicle’s condition can be shared quickly with vehicle owners. It improves technician efficiency in the bays, service writer efficiency at the counter, increases average repair order and builds trust with vehicle owners.

                      Today’s vehicle owners want to receive their vehicles health status electronically, this makes FlexCheck Auto the most transparent way to do sell auto repair. Try it for free for 30 days! Go to FlexCheckAuto.com to learn more.

                      12 min
                    • FTR 061: Bill Haas – Let’s Not Make The Same Mistake We Made With R12 With Ownership Of Data? Let’s Re-think This.

                      Bill Haas, AAM, is the owner of Haas performance consulting LLC, with 40 years of experience in the automotive service and repair industry. Clients have access to Bill’s solution based focus, expertise, unique perspectives and in-depth knowledge of the industry.

                      Bill began his career working part-time at a full-service gasoline station in Appleton, Wisconsin. His career includes time as a technician, shop owner, technical trainer and on the staff of the automotive industry’s oldest and largest association representing automotive service and collision repair businesses. While at the association Bill had the opportunity to work with all segments of the industry.

                      His knowledge of the industry has been shared on many occasions as he has been invited to speak at numerous industry events as well as providing testimony at hearings of the US Congress and several state legislatures on important legislation and regulation affecting the automotive industry.

                      Bill received the Accredited Automotive Manager (AAM) credential from the automotive management institute in 1996 and has been a member of the automotive management institute’s faculty since 2002.

                      Bill is also the business manager for NACAT, the North American Council of Automotive Teachers. His services include business management seminar development and delivery, keynote presentations, business consulting, performance coaching, and strategic planning facilitation. Listen to Bill’s previous episodes HERE.

                       

                      Key Talking Points

                      • Back in the day when R12 rose in price because of a tax, we had a chance to change who purchased refrigerant. 
                      • Today the Clean Air Act requires all technicians who work on refrigerant systems who purchase refrigerant R134A and R1234YF in quantities of 2 pounds or more need a certification called ‘Section 609’.
                        • MACS hold these certifications
                        • Anyone can purchase refrigerant in sizes below 2 pounds.

                        • Bill says we missed an opportunity to take this product out of the hands of the consumer.
                        • Since we are on the verge of the data issue; ownership, privacy, access.  Will we use this opportunity to be sure the ‘right’ people are qualified to vehicle data?
                        •  What will the vehicle owner do with their data if they get access to it. Will they have access to repair ADAS systems on their own?
                        • Who are the professionals going to be?
                        • We could elevate the industry to a new level of professionalism by limiting who gets access to the vehicle data
                        • They will need training, skill sets, and equipment to qualify access to vehicle data
                        • Consider security professionals and their access to key codes. This template exists to take data access to the right people (definition to be determined)
                        • We need to be proactive to be sure this is done correctly.
                        • It needs to be supported by the entire industry. Across the board
                          • United we can approach the OE’s with a strong plan for data access
                          • They may be worried about liability instead of taking all the work to the dealership.
                          • They don’t have the capacity to do all the work 

                          • The data needs to be safe  

                            • A special thanks to Bill Haas for his contribution to the aftermarket.
                            • Books mentioned in the content library HERE
                            • Leave me an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help and I read each one of them.
                            • Email Carm HERE.

                            •  

                               

                              Be socially involved and in touch with the show:

                              Facebook   Twitter   Linked In   Email    Events   Instagram   Speaking

                              Subscribe to a free mobile listening app HERE.

                               

                              This episode is brought to you by FlexCheck Auto Digital Vehicle Inspection Software.

                              Savvy shop owners use vehicle inspections to find additional work on a vehicle that the vehicle owner may not know is needed. The most successful shop owners fully inspect every car, every time. It benefits the vehicle owner more than the shop because most vehicle owners want their autos to be reliable.

                              FlexCheck Auto takes the power of a shop’s inspection process and puts it in the palm of your technician’s hand so that pictures, video, and vehicle specific notes about a vehicle’s condition can be shared quickly with vehicle owners. It improves technician efficiency in the bays, service writer efficiency at the counter, increases average repair order and builds trust with vehicle owners.

                              Today’s vehicle owners want to receive their vehicles health status electronically, this makes FlexCheck Auto the most transparent way to do sell auto repair. Try it for free for 30 days! Go to FlexCheckAuto.com to learn more.

                              16 min
                            • FTR 060: Jeff Rudnick – Are Cooperatives in Our Future

                              Jeff has been involved in the Automotive Industry since 1993. He spent 9 years as a Manufacturer’s Representative selling Automotive Parts and Accessories to clients in the Pacific Northwest. During that time, he worked directly with dozens of Manufacturers and Importers of Parts and Accessories to find distribution across all levels of the Automotive Industry.

                               

                              Jeff founded The Rudnick Group in 2002 calling directly on Automotive Repair Facilities to serve their marketing needs. Initially, The Rudnick Group focused on Reminder Mailers utilizing CustomerLink’s services; this relationship continued until CustomerLink sold to Intuit. Quickly, The Rudnick Group added Brand Development, Website Design and Management, Web Marketing Services and a comprehensive Direct Mail offering. The Rudnick Group became Pit Crew Marketing in 2006 when eWardMe Auto Shop Rewards was launched.

                               

                              Jeff is an avid skier, backpacker, mountain biker and traveler. Jeff’s home base is currently The Big Island of Hawaii just outside Hilo.

                               

                              Key Talking Points

                              • Disruptors and challenges going on right now
                              • Shop owner s do not know of the opportunity they have
                              • Shop owners are not harnessing their buying power or intellectual property
                              • We need to be lean and mean and manage our costs
                              • Why don’t things get less expensive when there is an economy of scale
                              • When you grow branches is the industry getting economy of scale on subscriptions
                              • Own your brand and control your own marketing

                                • A special thanks to Jeff Rudnick for his contribution to the aftermarket.
                                • Books mentioned in the content library HERE
                                • Leave me an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help and I read each one of them.
                                • Email Carm HERE.

                                •  

                                   

                                  Be socially involved and in touch with the show:

                                  Facebook   Twitter   Linked In   Email    Events   Instagram   Speaking

                                  This episode is brought to you by FlexCheck Auto Digital Vehicle Inspection Software.

                                  Savvy shop owners use vehicle inspections to find additional work on a vehicle that the vehicle owner may not know is needed. The most successful shop owners fully inspect every car, every time. It benefits the vehicle owner more than the shop because most vehicle owners want their autos to be reliable.

                                  FlexCheck Auto takes the power of a shop’s inspection process and puts it in the palm of your technician’s hand so that pictures, video, and vehicle specific notes about a vehicle’s condition can be shared quickly with vehicle owners. It improves technician efficiency in the bays, service writer efficiency at the counter, increases average repair order and builds trust with vehicle owners.

                                  Today’s vehicle owners want to receive their vehicles health status electronically, this makes FlexCheck Auto the most transparent way to do sell auto repair. Try it for free for 30 days! Go to FlexCheckAuto.com to learn more.

                                  9 min
                                • FTR 059: Greg Buckley on LYFT

                                  Greg Buckley is the CEO the 50 + year young Buckley Personalized Auto Care in Wilmington, DE. He’s a member of ASA, an ATI Coach, a member of the Delaware Automotive Service Professionals, past member of the NAPA advisory board council, is vice-president of NAPA business development groups, and is involved as an advisory board member of Kukui, along with AutoVitals. Hear Greg’s previous episodes HERE.

                                  Key Talking Points

                                  • Lyft plans to start with 25 service centers around the country
                                  • Wanted to see the activity in the Lyft Service Center in Philadelphia
                                  • Plans to service the ride-share industry
                                  • Shocked about the volume that was going through this location. It was ¾ full
                                  • Reluctant to accommodate this marketplace in his shop
                                  • The waiting room was sparse but did have coffee and water
                                  • Observed a brake job being done and a detailer cleaning the inside 
                                  • GM has invested $500 million in LYFT
                                  • He observed discount cards from a dealership on the counter
                                  • Can independents bring in some of the ride-share maintenance business?
                                  • It is possible that the ride-share driver may not know how to extract the most value from their vehicle
                                  • Don’t ignore this LYFT business model. They will become a fleet operator and pull volume from the market
                                  • Ask your customer base to help keep their ride-share vehicle safe and reliable

                                  •  

                                    • A special thanks to Greg Buckley for his contribution to the aftermarket.
                                    • Books mentioned in the content library HERE
                                    • Leave me an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help and I read each one of them.
                                    • Email Carm HERE.

                                    •  

                                       

                                      Be socially involved and in touch with the show:

                                      Facebook   Twitter   Linked In   Email    Events   Instagram   Speaking

                                      This episode is brought to you by FlexCheck Auto Digital Vehicle Inspection Software.

                                      Savvy shop owners use vehicle inspections to find additional work on a vehicle that the vehicle owner may not know is needed. The most successful shop owners fully inspect every car, every time. It benefits the vehicle owner more than the shop because most vehicle owners want their autos to be reliable.

                                      FlexCheck Auto takes the power of a shop’s inspection process and puts it in the palm of your technician’s hand so that pictures, video, and vehicle specific notes about a vehicle’s condition can be shared quickly with vehicle owners. It improves technician efficiency in the bays, service writer efficiency at the counter, increases average repair order and builds trust with vehicle owners.

                                      Today’s vehicle owners want to receive their vehicles health status electronically, this makes FlexCheck Auto the most transparent way to do sell auto repair. Try it for free for 30 days! Go to FlexCheckAuto.com to learn more.

                                      19 min
                                    • FTR 058: Tomi Oliva – Would You Work For You?

                                      Tomi Oliva is the owner and operator of San Jose Automotive Center in Chicago, IL. He grew up working in the family business. The primary business back then was tire related, but they did venture into some general repair.

                                      This is when he realized what he was going to be when he grew up . The tire side of the business was a chore but once he got a taste for the automotive service business, he knew his professional direction. So much so that he went against his father’s wishes and attended UTI Glendale Heights where he graduated in 2004. After graduating, he worked for a Nissan Dealer for a while before returning to Chicago to take over his Father’s Tire Business.

                                      Tomi converted the tire shop into a full general repair business. San Jose Automotive Center is now an automotive general service business and has been since 2015.

                                      About two years ago, he started attended technical training and meeting others that shared his same passion for diagnostics. The relationships that he developed from these courses and training events have opened doors to some awesome opportunities. To say that Tomi is satisfied with his career choice and industry involvement would be an understatement, but he’s just getting started.  Listen to Tomi’s previous episodes HERE.

                                      • A special thanks to Tomi Oliva for his contribution to the aftermarket.
                                      • Books mentioned in the content library HERE
                                      • Leave me an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help and I read each one of them.
                                      • Email Carm HERE.

                                      •  

                                         

                                        Be socially involved and in touch with the show:

                                        Facebook   Twitter   Linked In   Email    Events   Instagram   Speaking

                                        This episode is brought to you by FlexCheck Auto Digital Vehicle Inspection Software.

                                        Savvy shop owners use vehicle inspections to find additional work on a vehicle that the vehicle owner may not know is needed. The most successful shop owners fully inspect every car, every time. It benefits the vehicle owner more than the shop because most vehicle owners want their autos to be reliable.

                                        FlexCheck Auto takes the power of a shop’s inspection process and puts it in the palm of your technician’s hand so that pictures, video, and vehicle specific notes about a vehicle’s condition can be shared quickly with vehicle owners. It improves technician efficiency in the bays, service writer efficiency at the counter, increases average repair order and builds trust with vehicle owners.

                                        Today’s vehicle owners want to receive their vehicles health status electronically, this makes FlexCheck Auto the most transparent way to do sell auto repair. Try it for free for 30 days! Go to FlexCheckAuto.com to learn more.

                                        8 min
                                      • FTR 057: Carm Capriotto – Get Involved In This National Cancer Research Program – Brakes For Breasts

                                        Carm Capriotto is a connector of aftermarket professionals and is the founder and host of Remarkable Results Radio, the premier automotive aftermarket industry podcast. It’s talk radio for aftermarket professionals.  Through interviews with the best in the business, sharing their unfiltered, honest and sincere stories with the goal of helping others solve their pain points and share knowledge.

                                        Important Links:

                                        Sign Up for Brakes For Breasts

                                        Brakes For Breasts WebSite

                                        CarmCast – Brakes For Breasts Web-A-Thon. Listen to Dr. Touhy

                                        Brakes For Breasts Resources, Q &A, Logos, Marketing, Press Releases

                                        Getting Your Vendor On-Board

                                         

                                        • A special thanks to Laura Frank and Leigh Anne Best for helping me with these links and for their unselfish work for Brakes For Breasts.
                                        • Books mentioned in the content library HERE
                                        • Leave me an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help and I read each one of them.
                                        • Email Carm HERE.

                                        •  

                                           

                                          Be socially involved and in touch with the show:

                                          Facebook   Twitter   Linked In   Email    Events   Instagram   Speaking

                                          This episode is brought to you by FlexCheck Auto Digital Vehicle Inspection Software.

                                          Savvy shop owners use vehicle inspections to find additional work on a vehicle that the vehicle owner may not know is needed. The most successful shop owners fully inspect every car, every time. It benefits the vehicle owner more than the shop because most vehicle owners want their autos to be reliable.

                                          FlexCheck Auto takes the power of a shop’s inspection process and puts it in the palm of your technician’s hand so that pictures, video, and vehicle specific notes about a vehicle’s condition can be shared quickly with vehicle owners. This simple, fully customizable system is designed to operate on any Android device. It improves technician efficiency in the bays, service writer efficiency at the counter, increases average repair order and builds trust with vehicle owners.

                                          Today’s vehicle owners want to receive their vehicles health status electronically, this makes FlexCheck Auto the most transparent way to do sell auto repair. Try it for free for 30 days! Go to FlexCheckAuto.com to learn more.

                                          13 min
                                        • FTR 056: Justin Barrett – Hard Talk on Areas of Improvement for Independents
                                          Justin Barrett is the owner and operator of Barrett Automotive, Cornelia, GA. He is excited about the future of this industry with autonomous vehicles and the role the independent repair shop will play in that arena, and with the changing landscape how we are going to have to be nimble and adapt to stay relevant.

                                          Leadership is something that is extremely challenging to him but rewarding when done right. He had some leadership failures and wins which are adding to his growth in that area. His biggest challenge right now is the same thing that he is working on and that is building a great team. In the last 18 months, he had gone from leading himself and one other to leading 6 and still adding to keep up with growth.  Find out more about Justin’s episodes HERE.

                                          Barrett Automotive Website HERE.

                                          Key Talking Points
                                          • What does your customer expect from you?
                                          • Clean and Organized should be the rule  
                                          • Dirty and cigarette smoke doesn’t make it today
                                            • What would be the customer expectations of this environment?

                                            • Your shop needs to be intentional on how it looks and smells to the customer
                                            • This develops trust and it starts in the lobby
                                            • Your customer will realize how much you care about their vehicle if you don’t care about your facility
                                            • Your ‘internal’ customers also want a clean and organized facility
                                              • How will you attract top talent

                                              • Clean and organization is on purpose
                                                • Tech clean their bay at lunchtime and at the end of the day

                                                • The appearance of our technicians is also important
                                                • Our technicians are critical to the overall success of the company
                                                  • Minimum hours of training for Justin’s shop is 40 hours per year with 80 being a goal

                                                  • Why aren’t every training venue maxed out with 50,000 technicians getting training?
                                                  • We close the shop to get the training required
                                                  • Put a line item in your budget
                                                  • Inspections are required for every customer
                                                    • Customers appreciate this service
                                                    • Helps minimize the visit of a tow truck to his shop with his customer’s  car
                                                    • When you start DVI you’ll find so much wrong with the vehicle and you’ll be nervous about quoting the most critical service needed


                                                    •  

                                                      • A special thanks to Justin Barrett for sharing his passion – For The Record.
                                                      • Books mentioned in the content library HERE
                                                      • Leave me an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help and I read each one of them.
                                                      • Email Carm HERE.

                                                      •  

                                                         

                                                        Be socially involved and in touch with the show:

                                                        Facebook   Twitter   Linked In   Email    Events   Instagram   Speaking

                                                        This episode is brought to you by FlexCheck Auto Digital Vehicle Inspection Software.

                                                        Savvy shop owners use vehicle inspections to find additional work on a vehicle that the vehicle owner may not know is needed. The most successful shop owners fully inspect every car, every time. It benefits the vehicle owner more than the shop because most vehicle owners want their autos to be reliable.

                                                        FlexCheck Auto takes the power of a shop’s inspection process and puts it in the palm of your technician’s hand so that pictures, video, and vehicle specific notes about a vehicle’s condition can be shared quickly with vehicle owners. This simple, fully customizable system is designed to operate on any Android device. It improves technician efficiency in the bays, service writer efficiency at the counter, increases average repair order and builds trust with vehicle owners.

                                                        Today’s vehicle owners want to receive their vehicles health status electronically, this makes FlexCheck Auto the most transparent way to do sell auto repair. Try it for free for 30 days! Go to FlexCheckAuto.com to learn more.

                                                        14 min
                                                      • FTR 055: Matt Fanslow – We Should Take The Same Skill Set For Automotive Diagnostics And Apply It To KPI Management

                                                        Matt Fanslow is the diagnostic tech/shop manager at Riverside Automotive in Red Wing, MN.  His primary responsibilities are to diagnose driveability and electrical/electronic issues, and perform most all programming, coding, initializing, adoptions, etc. Basically, if it needs to be figured out or has wires, it goes to Matt. He’s been a tech since 1996.

                                                        Matt is also a subject matter expert for ASE and has instructed at Vision Hi-Tech Training and Expo.

                                                        Matt has participated on 18 ASE technical committees for the ASE Practice Test, A6, A7, A8, and L1 tests. He’s also done case studies for Standard Motor Products.

                                                        Fanslow’s goal is to do everything in his power to improve the overall level of professionalism within the automotive and light truck repair trade and also raise the level of its public image.

                                                        We Should Take The Same Skill Set For Automotive Diagnostics And Apply It To KPI Management 

                                                        Matt Fanslow has an interesting view of analyzing KPIs. He says if your a shop owner that started as a tech, you have the foundation to take what you know about diagnostics and apply it to improve your business.  Matt Fanslow’s Previous Episodes HERE.

                                                        Key Talking Points

                                                        • Shop owners and manager who were technicians should be able to best understand how to manage KPIs
                                                        • As a technician:
                                                          • You learned systems, processes and routines that made you efficient at your task.
                                                          • Systems in diagnostics help you attain your goal. No different in managing/leading a shop
                                                          • The shop management system (SMS)can be compared to a scan tool
                                                          • KPI’s are no different than scan data PIDs
                                                          • Decisions on altering KPIs performance is no different than using the data from the scan tool to do further testing to find the exact ‘culpret’ or problem with the KPI
                                                          • Using a KPIs for a shotgun diag on the business may not necessarily be right. You may need to go deeper to find the root cause of the problem.
                                                          • Are there other tests on the business that could corroborate the higher-level problem
                                                          • As you go deeper you may find deeper issues, same as in diagnosing a vehicle technical problem.


                                                          •  

                                                            • A special thanks to Matt Fanslow for sharing his passion – For The Record.
                                                            • Books mentioned in the content library HERE
                                                            • Leave me an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help and I read each one of them.
                                                            • Email Carm HERE.

                                                            •  

                                                               

                                                              Be socially involved and in touch with the show:

                                                              Facebook   Twitter   Linked In   Email    Events   Instagram   Speaking

                                                              This episode is brought to you by FlexCheck Auto Digital Vehicle Inspection Software.

                                                              Savvy shop owners use vehicle inspections to find additional work on a vehicle that the vehicle owner may not know is needed. The most successful shop owners fully inspect every car, every time. It benefits the vehicle owner more than the shop because most vehicle owners want their autos to be reliable.

                                                              FlexCheck Auto takes the power of a shop’s inspection process and puts it in the palm of your technician’s hand so that pictures, video, and vehicle specific notes about a vehicle’s condition can be shared quickly with vehicle owners. This simple, fully customizable system is designed to operate on any Android device. It improves technician efficiency in the bays, service writer efficiency at the counter, increases average repair order and builds trust with vehicle owners.

                                                              Today’s vehicle owners want to receive their vehicles health status electronically, this makes FlexCheck Auto the most transparent way to do sell auto repair. Try it for free for 30 days! Go to FlexCheckAuto.com to learn more.

                                                              9 min

                                                            About For The Record - Archive

                                                            From the publisher's feed

                                                            A platform to say what is top of mind. A short but intense rhapsody from a peer. This is in the style of the OP/ED section of your newspaper. The intention is to push a few boundaries and create a…