Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Rubber News
  • European Rubber Journal
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • Current Issue
  • BEST PLACES TO WORK
  • News
    • HUMANITARIAN
    • TIRE MAKERS
    • COMMERCIAL TIRE
    • GOVERNMENT & LAW
    • MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS
    • OBITUARIES
    • OPINION
    • MID YEAR REPORT
    • SERVICE ZONE
  • ADAS
  • Data
    • DATA STORE
  • Custom
    • SPONSORED CONTENT
  • Resources
    • Events
    • DIRECTORY
    • CLASSIFIEDS
    • SHOP FLOOR
    • AWARDS
    • ASK THE EXPERT
    • LIVESTREAMS
    • WEBINARS
    • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
    • RUBBER NEWS EVENTS
    • BALANCING
    • DEMOUNTING
    • SAFETY
    • TIRE REPAIR
    • TPMS
    • TRAINING
    • VEHICLE LIFTING
    • WHEEL TORQUE
    • Best Places to Work
  • ADVERTISE
  • DIGITAL EDITION
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. Service Zone
February 28, 2017 01:00 AM

Recognize when it's time to lead, coach, inspire workers

Dan Marinucci
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print
    Dan Marinucci

    Cleanliness should be an integral part of your business plan instead of an afterthought to it.

    What's more, tire dealers and service shop operators should make workers responsible for the most-common clean up chores required at an automotive service facility.

    Competition for tires, auto repairs and maintenance is downright cutthroat today. Therefore, owners and managers should seize every competitive advantage practically possible. Experience shows that a clean, professional-looking facility yields two basic but vital advantages.

    First, it attracts motorists rather than repulses them.

    Second, a clean, bright operation helps you meet or exceed consumers' expectations on the first visit. I think it's difficult to put a dollar value on these two factors today. For the upcoming generations of potential customers, the old auto repair image is just that — old, outdated, unwanted.

    Yes, the work we do is often dirty. But over the years, I sometimes have had difficulty convincing service personnel that dirty work doesn't translate into dirty people and a dirty shop.

    Sooner or later — preferably sooner — dirty automotive technicians clean up their bays and change into clean uniforms.

    As sure as the sun will come up tomorrow, both technicians and their work areas will get dirty. But techs must be coached, cajoled and reminded to clean up their bays regularly.

    Remember that spilled oil or coolant does more than just look sloppy. Puddles of liquids may cause inattentive coworkers to slip, fall and injure themselves.

    What's more, unattended spills often get tracked outside the service department. These "spillage" tracks look slovenly and hurt the department's image.

    A customer who sees the footprints may wonder if someone's going to track coolant or oil into his or her vehicle!

    Discarded parts are another unsightly hazard. Coach workers to put these things in the appropriate trash barrel or recycle bin as soon as practically possible.

    After all, old parts accumulating in a service bay look trashy — period. Like puddles, these things are hazards because workers may trip over them.

    Allocate time for technicians to clean up in between jobs. After all, puddles and/or parts debris never get any cleaner or less hazardous as the day progresses. No, the opposite happens.

    If 15-20 minutes of necessary clean up time requires you to adjust the day's schedule, then adjust it. After all, professionalism and safety are part of the job. Also, find a way to cover the time the tech spends here — unless gross negligence caused the mess.

    Every repair or maintenance job doesn't cause an unsightly and/or unsafe mess. But these things do happen to the best of technicians. Regardless, coach the crew to address these things promptly. (If you happen to employ someone who can clean up a bay while a tech continues working in another bay, for instance, that's fine too.)

    Wear clean uniforms

    Eventually, techs get dirty at one point or another. I urge owners and managers to make extra uniforms available for all service personnel.

    Surely, some techs manage to work cleaner than others do. But eventually they are all likely to need a change of clothing.

    I think that the cost of additional uniforms is a solid investment in an overall more-professional image—clean versus dirty appearance.

    Changing to a clean uniform ultimately may save money by eliminating the risk of spreading dirt or stains to customers' interiors.

    Overall, erring on the side of cleanliness makes better business sense. It's a vital step toward meeting and/or exceeding expectations.

    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Do you have an opinion about this story? Do you have some thoughts you'd like to share with our readers? Tire Business would love to hear from you. Email your letter to Editor Don Detore at [email protected].

    Most Popular
    1
    EU approves Yokohoma's Trelleborg Wheel Systems purchase
    2
    Hankook Tire confirms arrest of Chairman Cho Hyun-bum
    3
    Conti marking Euro car tires with EV-compatible symbol
    4
    Winter tire usage in Canada keeps growing
    5
    Gold Trip: Conti EV strategy remains consistent
    SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Newsletter Center

    Staying current is easy with Tire Business delivered straight to your inbox.

    SUBSCRIBE TODAY

    Subscribe to Tire Business

    SUBSCRIBE
    Connect with Us
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • RSS

    Our Mission

    Tire Business is an award-winning publication dedicated to providing the latest news, data and insights into the tire and automotive service industries.

    Reader Services
    • Staff
    • About Us
    • Site Map
    • Industry Sites
    • Order Reprints
    • Customer Service: 877-320-1716
    Partner Sites
    • Rubber News
    • European Rubber Journal
    • Automotive News
    • Plastics News
    • Urethanes Technology
    RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    • Terms of Service
    • Media Guide
    • Editorial Calendar
    • Classified Rates
    • Digital Edition
    • Careers
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    Copyright © 1996-2023. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • BEST PLACES TO WORK
    • News
      • HUMANITARIAN
      • TIRE MAKERS
      • COMMERCIAL TIRE
      • GOVERNMENT & LAW
      • MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS
      • OBITUARIES
      • OPINION
      • MID YEAR REPORT
      • SERVICE ZONE
    • ADAS
    • Data
      • DATA STORE
    • Custom
      • SPONSORED CONTENT
    • Resources
      • Events
        • ASK THE EXPERT
        • LIVESTREAMS
        • WEBINARS
        • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
        • RUBBER NEWS EVENTS
      • DIRECTORY
      • CLASSIFIEDS
      • SHOP FLOOR
        • BALANCING
        • DEMOUNTING
        • SAFETY
        • TIRE REPAIR
        • TPMS
        • TRAINING
        • VEHICLE LIFTING
        • WHEEL TORQUE
      • AWARDS
        • Best Places to Work
    • ADVERTISE
    • DIGITAL EDITION