COD: Chain of delay
The approval process in our industry has created a costly chain of delay, increasing downtime and adding unnecessary costs and aggravation. We have to fix the process.
Security: Safety or Surveillance?
Security has taken a new dimension that, in some cases, has left common sense at the gates of hell. For instance some fleet managers want the “security” of the parts room to be a lock-up…other fleets want to have a parts person hand out all of the parts at the window.
Fees: Greed or Survival?
When was the last time you rented a car and you checked the fee? Were you assessed facility fees and recoup fees, local tax, city tax, state tax?
‘VP of Mystery’
Whose job is it, anyway? Review job procedures with all employees on a regular basis.
Communication and employee evaluations
Create a solid plan for employee evaluations to maximize performance and minimize problems.
Numbers, Numbers, Numbers
Maintenance managers are always challenged by the bean counters, and in some cases they need to be. There is no question that there’s value in measuring cash in and cash out and sticking to a business plan that manages income and expenses. We have vehicle maintenance reporting standards (VMRS) to guide us. Those standards work
Ensuring proper wheel bearing torque every time
Over-tightening can damage the lug nuts, wheels and hubs – and worse, result in a wheel-off situation.
MBWA: Management by wandering around, not walking away
Walking around the shop is a quick way to know what is going on. You need report data, but reports alone may not be the answer.
Increasing front axle capacity
Here’s a concern I’ve heard: “Our tractors wander, floating feelings and the drivers keep writing them up. I have done everything I can think of to repair the problem and even sent the tractors to the local frontend shop.” So what can you do? For years, when spec’ing tractors, I would increase the front axle
What can we do to keep OSHA happy?
According to Darry Stuart, there are many things you can do to keep OSHA happy when a representative walks into your shop. Presenting a clean and orderly shop is top of the list.
The infamous white board: is it useful?
Stuart Comments: Many fleet leaders like to use a white board to manage the shop. They use it to control all activities: post a "to-do" list, as a PM scheduling board, a place to display special order parts, post notes, list the trucks in service and trucks that are out of service, add special notes
How can you get an accurate snapshot of what happened yesterday?
Stuart suggests: Go to your office, get a cup of coffee, turn on your radio, fire up the computer, check the sports icon, get the game scores, check your e-mails, read your calendar, sync your phone, call your girlfriend or vendor buddy, schedule a meeting, check your texts, send a few texts, talk to your