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How can I increase my efficiency
- Thread starter Inkncraig
- Start date
Wood'nMetal
Well-known member
A few things come to mind:
Purchase the tools you need to get the job done and not the latest gimmick.
If you have to borrow a tool to complete a job then buy it.
Organize your box efficiently.
Scan your repair orders before starting work...get a parts list going and have the tools set out ahead of time.
If you do a lot of repetitive jobs like lube work then have a drawer or cart dedicated to those tools. Time spent at the box opening drawers is time lost.
Purchase the tools you need to get the job done and not the latest gimmick.
If you have to borrow a tool to complete a job then buy it.
Organize your box efficiently.
Scan your repair orders before starting work...get a parts list going and have the tools set out ahead of time.
If you do a lot of repetitive jobs like lube work then have a drawer or cart dedicated to those tools. Time spent at the box opening drawers is time lost.
kamesama980
Well-known member
What do you mean "line tech"? I'm going to assume general automotive repair from the working on domestic and imports part.
Keep the tools and parts organized while you work. Don't put them all randomly in a pile on a cart or table. If you separate the ones you're using for a job ahead of time, keep an area separate for them and only them. Use a tool, put it back. use another tool, put it back (whether it's the main box or a separate cart with just tools for that job) those few seconds wasted looking for the right socket add up.
+1 Don't fill the box with gimmick tools you don't need. Use the right tool for the job.
Clean threads on everything. Torque wrench when you can. Pay attention! Might slow you down some but you won't ever have a problem. I've had to deal with the aftermath of people being lazy and inattentive. The problem's actually twofold: the person was using a battery impact to tighten exhaust v-bands. the nut bound up and A. he couldn't feel it due to the impact driver B. he didn't check it. threads were dirty, galled, and siezed the nut before the clamp was tight. had to re-run 24hrs of tests from an exhaust leak.
Don't cut corners or do things quick to get it done and out the door. high throughput is great but even an occasional comeback kills your numbers. Do it right, do it once.
Keep the tools and parts organized while you work. Don't put them all randomly in a pile on a cart or table. If you separate the ones you're using for a job ahead of time, keep an area separate for them and only them. Use a tool, put it back. use another tool, put it back (whether it's the main box or a separate cart with just tools for that job) those few seconds wasted looking for the right socket add up.
+1 Don't fill the box with gimmick tools you don't need. Use the right tool for the job.
Clean threads on everything. Torque wrench when you can. Pay attention! Might slow you down some but you won't ever have a problem. I've had to deal with the aftermath of people being lazy and inattentive. The problem's actually twofold: the person was using a battery impact to tighten exhaust v-bands. the nut bound up and A. he couldn't feel it due to the impact driver B. he didn't check it. threads were dirty, galled, and siezed the nut before the clamp was tight. had to re-run 24hrs of tests from an exhaust leak.
Don't cut corners or do things quick to get it done and out the door. high throughput is great but even an occasional comeback kills your numbers. Do it right, do it once.
rockwithjason
Well-known member
i am not a line tech but i am a maintenance tech of sorts so i can offer some things to think about. plan, think, plan, plan, plan. your plan will not always come off but when you actually stop and think about how to approach a job you will come up with little nuggets to increase your output. lay out your tools and parts i an organized manner and keep them that way. take the time to clean up and have a nice area to work in. keep a "smart book" of the little things you learn that are not in any manual. use tabs to organize it in a way that you can easily navigate. use folding tables and baggies to keep parts organized.
volvo
Well-known member
..
I always tell the super fast new young techs that spend haft their time on comebacks ....... " Hey you gota be good before you can be fast"...Know you **** !
Knowing what you are doing has alot to do with it. Being speedy, done correctly, bring more value to job ( doing more that makes the job a better one ( It take no more time) )
Know you ****, add in additional value, done correctly/ on time = Then in time you write your own ticket (you dictate what goes & doesn't).
I always tell the super fast new young techs that spend haft their time on comebacks ....... " Hey you gota be good before you can be fast"...Know you **** !
Knowing what you are doing has alot to do with it. Being speedy, done correctly, bring more value to job ( doing more that makes the job a better one ( It take no more time) )
Know you ****, add in additional value, done correctly/ on time = Then in time you write your own ticket (you dictate what goes & doesn't).
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Fastbird
Well-known member
Experience
y20dth
Well-known member
Watch how other guys do stuff.
Ask the service writer what's planned for the next day, and read up in the manual about the job that is scheduled for tomorow.
Think for yourself.
Ask the service writer what's planned for the next day, and read up in the manual about the job that is scheduled for tomorow.
Think for yourself.
volvo
Well-known member
..
Make sure you fully read and understand every factory repair/Recall/service technical service bulletin Daily. IN no time your work and answering questions will be faster and easier. Usually no one dose this or falls behind and soon they are the ones spending hours on a problem that there is a bulletin on which they have not read/heard of/or can not find. Service writers don't care, fellow tech too busy trying to husel the next job, older tech just letting the profession pass them by. Then in a year or less turn over guys are too late to catch up, AND then BINGO, your the man, You are diag cars before you drive them due to your current up to date knowledge. YOU are so proficient because you are not wasting valuable time going in the wrong direction. The minutes add up to hours and finally it is a fun to come to work to repair cars and as a result you are rollin in the easy money. Asking and learning from others mistakes and experience tells me you are already on your way to a commanding career. Good Luck.
Make sure you fully read and understand every factory repair/Recall/service technical service bulletin Daily. IN no time your work and answering questions will be faster and easier. Usually no one dose this or falls behind and soon they are the ones spending hours on a problem that there is a bulletin on which they have not read/heard of/or can not find. Service writers don't care, fellow tech too busy trying to husel the next job, older tech just letting the profession pass them by. Then in a year or less turn over guys are too late to catch up, AND then BINGO, your the man, You are diag cars before you drive them due to your current up to date knowledge. YOU are so proficient because you are not wasting valuable time going in the wrong direction. The minutes add up to hours and finally it is a fun to come to work to repair cars and as a result you are rollin in the easy money. Asking and learning from others mistakes and experience tells me you are already on your way to a commanding career. Good Luck.
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bob from indiana
Well-known member
Back in my garage days my best time saver was a yard sale ironing board. It looked funny but it was a real time saver on brake jobs. It was the right size and height to put parts on when I had a car on the lift. When not in use it folded up. The top was big enough to hold brake shoes and the springs laid out like they came off. Some clean newspaper or cardboard made a throw away top for wheel bearings and seals. (This was back in the 80s when we had to pack wheel bearings on front disc brake rotors.) If I had it to do again I would have two of them handy. They are also great for under hood work to set things on.
My second item is plastic trays like you use in a cafeteria rest. I picked some up in a flea market. They are very handy for small parts. I keep several at work for when I assemble pneumatic parts. I even keep one in my car trunk for putting screws and parts in when I do a repair.
I sometimes use a digital camera to take photos of things before taking them apart. This has paid off several times especially if it takes a while to get new parts to reassemble.
Magnetic bowls , zip lock bags and a marker are your friends to keep bolts sorted by where they came from.
I hope these old school tricks help you out.
My second item is plastic trays like you use in a cafeteria rest. I picked some up in a flea market. They are very handy for small parts. I keep several at work for when I assemble pneumatic parts. I even keep one in my car trunk for putting screws and parts in when I do a repair.
I sometimes use a digital camera to take photos of things before taking them apart. This has paid off several times especially if it takes a while to get new parts to reassemble.
Magnetic bowls , zip lock bags and a marker are your friends to keep bolts sorted by where they came from.
I hope these old school tricks help you out.
We all fool ourselves with how much time we spend on a particular job and in a dynamic work place like a repair shop it is easy to drop 15 minutes here and there.
You need to track and record your work day and don't lie to yourself about the time you spend on non paying work. If you find others are dropping by and distracting you then find ways to change that. If you are disorganized then take small steps to correct that.
If you know what is going to be coming in tomorrow then take time tonight to review things like TSB's or even a search on new repair procedures.
At the start of a job write down your estimated time to complete it. From there figure out what went right, wrong and what time you will give that same job the next time.
Get better at handling paper/computer work.
Look at where you are spending 80% of your time and concentrate your efforts there.
If you really want to scare yourself set up a camera to record your work bay then review it.
You need to track and record your work day and don't lie to yourself about the time you spend on non paying work. If you find others are dropping by and distracting you then find ways to change that. If you are disorganized then take small steps to correct that.
If you know what is going to be coming in tomorrow then take time tonight to review things like TSB's or even a search on new repair procedures.
At the start of a job write down your estimated time to complete it. From there figure out what went right, wrong and what time you will give that same job the next time.
Get better at handling paper/computer work.
Look at where you are spending 80% of your time and concentrate your efforts there.
If you really want to scare yourself set up a camera to record your work bay then review it.
jsaw
Well-known member
I have a tool cart with My high use tools on it, When I worked at the dealer, it was always right beside me so I didn't have to walk to My main box to grab a tool.
Keep a notebook to write things down . Information that you might use a lot. rather than having to search and look up information, keep notes in the notebook.
Learn the service information and where to find it. Most all of it is on computer nowdays. The faster you can find the info., the faster you can get the job done.
Try to maintain a good relationship with the older techs. They have a lot of experience. If they see that you really want to learn, most of the older guys are happy to pass on the knowledge that they have learned over the years.
Try to keep a good relationship with the parts guys. If you don't, they can cut your efficiency big time.
If the manufacturer of the cars you are working on has a web site for techs, join the site. there will be lots of good information on that site.
Keep a notebook to write things down . Information that you might use a lot. rather than having to search and look up information, keep notes in the notebook.
Learn the service information and where to find it. Most all of it is on computer nowdays. The faster you can find the info., the faster you can get the job done.
Try to maintain a good relationship with the older techs. They have a lot of experience. If they see that you really want to learn, most of the older guys are happy to pass on the knowledge that they have learned over the years.
Try to keep a good relationship with the parts guys. If you don't, they can cut your efficiency big time.
If the manufacturer of the cars you are working on has a web site for techs, join the site. there will be lots of good information on that site.
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