by scotstrong » Thu Oct 19, 2006 1:10 pm
With all due respect, it sounds like you are trying to compare two different calculations. Hours per repair order is simply that -- total number of hours sold divided by total number of repair orders.
First, the concept of "hours per repair order" always was of questionable value; and the method(s) for calculation vary depending on what "consultant" you are talking to -- if you do quicklube do you count those in the calculation or not; do you count internals or not; etc. etc.
To me, the only true value of a "hours per repair order" calculation should be to compare to "total hours available to sell".
In other words, use it to help measure stall utilization. When we start concentrating on trying to "increase" hours per repair order, we start getting into the possibility of "overselling"; or holding repair orders open if someone is coming back in a few days, etc. Does it really matter whether a ten-hour customer pay job was completed on one repair order or on two repair orders seven days apart? Your total hours and dollars sold is the same either way. Even most of the OEM manufacturers are starting to get away from this as any valid measurement.
Scot Strong