Body Shop Management
Running a modern auto body shop requires a keen ability to manage all the variables and deal with all the stakeholders. Success isn’t as simple as fixing cars and hiring workers. There are many moving parts, and successful auto body shop management is all about keeping things moving smoothly, even when problems arise.
One of the largest components of any successful body shop business has to do with auto insurance. Car insurance companies are a major piece of the collision repair puzzle, which means that successful body shop managers need to know how to work with these insurance providers, and how to balance their requirements with customers’ expectations. Depending on the insurance policy, auto insurance companies will either pay for certain parts and for certain services, or it may be up to the body shop manager to somehow reason and negotiate with the insurance adjuster in order to iron out all the details. At the other end of the transaction is the vehicle owner, who may not fully understand his or her car insurance coverage. The owner may want OE parts, for example, but their insurance policy may not provide that kind of coverage. It’s up to the manager, again, to deal with the situation. Many collision repair professionals have been stuck in the middle of this type of back-and-forth between the vehicle insurer and the vehicle owner, making the job of the body shop manager that much more demanding.
Busy body shops need to assure that all employees and all departments are running smoothly, and that the repair process is efficient. Auto repair shop management must include an understanding of the most effective body shop layout, including the paint booths, the body welder area (or body spot welder), along with prep, finishing, etc. The ability to move a vehicle quickly and efficiently from one work station to another is key to managing a body repair workshop, whether large or small. It’s the only way to maximize efficiencies, minimize headaches and maximize profits.
One of the key individuals who can help you manage your workflow is a competent and capable damage estimator. A true professional who not only completed an automotive estimator course, but who thoroughly understands the job, has experience, and who has mastered the use of the software that allows an automotive estimator to do the best job possible, can be a true asset well worth what you’ll pay for an automotive estimator salary. All the pieces of the puzzle and all the department must work together in order to maximize throughput, especially when a body shop is working at full capacity. It’s the job of the auto body shop management to assure that this well-oiled machine, with its many moving parts, continues to satisfy all stakeholders, from the owner of the vehicle to the insurer of the vehicle, and all the staff members and parts suppliers in between. A tall order indeed!
