To Dispatch or not...

[flyboy]

I am in the process of leaving a GM store I have been at for some time, we have been a true team system for years and it has worked wonderfully, due mainly because of the right mix of people.

My question is this, in what is going to be my next location, the shop is set up with a dispatcher, which I have always felt was a waste of money and extra personel. With three writers & 10 techs, it seems like a group or lateral support system would be more appropriate. I am leaning more towards a group, not splitting of hours, no defined "leader" just three techs assigned to a specific writer. I coulddivide these up by skills, grouping those heavy line techs together, and the light line and drivability together. Something along those lines. Or I could see if there is enought balance among the techs availible to actualy put a heavy line, light line and so forth on each group.

So, what is your opinion. I would like to hear what you have done and what has, and hasn't, worked.

[Doug]

We have 3 writers and 14 techs (no dispatcher) using laternal support system. Works great ! Do it !

I will say, though, that in a shop much bigger than what we have a dispatcher probably would be needed again......advisors can only do so much.

Lateral support sounds great for the size shop you've described.....providing each advisor ahs the correct mix of techs. As you have inferred, this is not always easy to achieve.

Good luck,

Doug

[mark vandersteeg]

how do you pay techs?
how do you pay service consultants?
are your techs union?
what is your current immediate need?...csi?...profit?...volume?...maximizing space?...

these are the questions you need to have answers for before forming a plan.

set a clear mission and vision based on the shop's need and owner's goals using input from current staff so that you can get buy-in from (almost) everyone.

[This message has been edited by mark vandersteeg (edited 06-14-2001).]

[jgc226]

simple support groups are the best answer for a shop that size dispatching is an antiquated way of doing business i have switched from dispatch to support groups in 14 different stores over the last 6 years with great success

[RPMWorksolution]

Hi jgc226,
How do you create a successfull working support Group and what are the negative sites?