New body shop manager-insight please

[asekevin]

Morning,
I am new to our bodyshop as of this morning. I have been in Fixed for a number of years as serv. manager. I have always enjoyed interactions with the bodyshop, both from the technical side and the restoration. I have not run a body shop before but am very interested in doing it well. I know most everyone here because of proximity to my serv. dept..
What I am looking for is best practices--I know this is a tall order. I want to hit the ground running, improve moral(got this working as we speak) and inccrease stall production.
I have two painters, 4 bodymen, two estimators, a porter and a receptionist. We are a Farmers COD shop but no other insurance company. We were a State Farm shop but lost this designation some time ago. We do not pay wrecker commisions.

So, I appreciate your help in advance. Thanks

[Old Irish]

The two things that have made our b/shop most sucessful are A) getting on board as a "direct repair" facility with as many insurance companies as possible. Lots of work, yes....no doubt about it. And B) having a couple painters work a "split shift". We repair metal by day, paint by night.

There's way more, of course....but those are a couple biggies for us.

Good luck
DD