Team system

[jgroth]

For those have of you that have gone to the team system, I have a few questions. What were the keys to success? What factors led to you going to the team system? If you tried it and went away from it, why? I look forward to your responses. Thanks.

[Mike Vogel]

AT OUR STORE WE WERE RUNNING SIMPLE SUPPORT WITH 4 TECHS PER ADVISOR WITH TECHS FLAGGING INDIVIDUALY. WE HAD REACHED THE MAX AS FAR AS PRODUCTIVITY ON THIS SYSTEM SO NEXT STEP WAS TO EITHER ADD MORE TECHS OR GO TO TEAMS. AS WE ALREADY HAD TECHS THAT GOT ALONG PRETTY WELL WITH EACH OTHER AND OFTEN HELPED EACH OTHER OUR TRANSITION WENT PRETTY SMOOTH. THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE WE HAD WAS TO FIND THE BEST SUITED PERSON TO BE TEAM LEADER. AS IN MOST CONVERSIONS WE GUARRANTEED EACH TECH FOR 30 DAYS THAT THEIR MONTHLY EARNINGS WOULD NOT GO BELOW THEIR 6 MONTH AVERAGE. THIS ALLOWED THEM TO RELAX AND WORK OUT ANY BUGS AT THE BEGINNING WITHOUT IT AFFECTING THEIR PAY. ITS BEEN ALMOST 10 MONTHS NOW AND THE ONLY THING I WOULD HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY IS TO HAVE DONE IT SOONER THAN I DID. WHAT A DIFFERENCE TEAMS MAKE !

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Mike Vogel
Claremont Toyota
Claremont, CA

[JYoung]

Advanced Production Systems have shown many differenr benefits. Teams is a 'way' of using an APS process. There are also Lateral Support Groups, Simple Support Groups and Super Groups. Each one has it's own pros and cons. Hpowever, there are several common factors in all of the APS methods. With APS you can achieve a level of 'empowerement' at the 'worker bee' level. Managment is done within the unit with the executive management ultimately 'steering' the process. You can experience greater levels of production output with the same volume of technicians. You can experience reduced expense levels due to an improvement in the productive Vs support ratios and you can experience improved CSI (and ESI) by having a staff that is better suited to respond to the customers needs in a more realistic fashion. If you are in a high growth market, youcan expand the service department without needing to 'overhaul' every time you expand.

[ViCar]

I been working with Teams (APS) for 12 years with great results. I have installed teams in many dealerships, having up's & down's.
1) It's mostly used on shops with space difficulties or on shops with not enough skills technicians.
2) Discipline is a must, from management down.
3) Continuos training on team processes is needed.
Takes an carefull analisys/evaluation to put them together for best results. It should be fair on techs. pay, provided skills balanced Teams and good work enviroment.