Working with employees to evaluate their work processes and find new, LEAN ways to do things, or eliminate unnecessary tasks altogether, can help reduce lost time. "We meet every Wednesday and break down our 34 employees into groups," explains Lynn Pesson of Southland Engine in Lafayette and Iberia, LA. "Every week we look at different processes for doing things." Each group of Pesson's employees sets a goal for the quarter to reduce costs in one area of the dealership, and then comes up with a plan to make it happen. Pesson decided to involve his employees in the process so they would feel involved and vested in the business' success.
"I told my staff to quit worrying about sales and start worrying about costs," says Pesson. "Every employee has changed their mindset, thinking about the cost side. Before, they were concerned about sales being off, but now they are focusing on something they can actually control. Economy and weather you cannot control - costs you can. People are actually excited about what they are doing again."
If employees are ready and willing to get involved, having the right tools can help. Jeff Haefner of Ideal Computer Systems suggests dealers have each of their employees do an exerrise to discover where they are wasting time. "I've always found the best way to eliminate those time bandits is to have each employee do a time study," says Haefner. "Each employee fills out a time log of everything they do throughout the day, categorizing tasks and adding up the time it takes to do them."
Haefner says dealers will be amazed at how much time is spent on certain things. After doing the exercise, they can figure out how to improve efficiency in those areas.
"They'll discover time lost in the service department waiting on parts, lost time in the parts department waiting on parts and equipment from manufacturers, and lost time with customers waiting on equipment repairs," Haefner adds. "It can all be reduced."