Habit #4 - Think Win-Win
Last Month was our third habit: Put First things first: looked at prioritising day-to-day actions based on what is most important, not what is most urgent.
Think win-win: Not your way nor my way but the right and optimal way, focusing on overall value stream cooperation, how should I work to get good outcomes for all the involved parties.
A quick example of win-win in a collision shop would be employing an apprentice. You put in valuable resources recruiting and nurturing an apprentice who will develop new skills and attributes and in turn allow your shop the opportunity to benefit from some of the latest technics and industry repair knowledge. They will also develop to fulfil the much-needed diverse skill sets required in our industry such as an electrical engineering or diagnostic expertise, along with the traditional skills of painting, panel beater and MET. They will also introduce a different way of thinking and solution providing by interacting with learning establishments and participating in the latest training courses. They will enhance your existing skill force by gaining the experience and skills for a fulfilling career in arguably the most exciting time within the automotive era seen in the last 100 years….
" In-process quality inspections are the only way to be sure the repair has been correctly completed through each repair phase, and nothing has been missed which could result in a rework or customer dissatisfaction. "
In-process quality assurance is another example of win-win, this is where the technicians complete fully their part of the repair and verify this by signing off their repair work using that particular repair related check list (preferably electronic), this would then be validated as correct or marked up if wrong or incomplete by the next repair phase technician or dedicated QC person before being accepted in the next repair phase. This process will ensure the repair is completed, nothing has been missed or forgotten - as directed by the repair documentation, all the necessary methods have been referenced, the repair has been completed to the correct standard as specified by the shop and/or work provider. This will also remove possible blockages like a Repair Order having to go back in a process, slowing or stopping other Repair Orders being worked on and delaying production and poorly utilizing valuable skilled labour.
In-process quality inspections are the only way to be sure the repair has been correctly completed through each repair phase, and nothing has been missed which could result in a rework or customer dissatisfaction. This process is a win-win for each and every entity in the process as well as the value stream, knowing they have peace of mind that the repair has an initial check and there is a validation to that the initial check has been checked and accepted to the next repair phase by the second check “validation” process. This is a win for everyone, as in process quality checks create a culture of continuous improvement.
Inspecting each phase using the ‘in-process’ methodology will elevate the repair production process and allow the shop to record failures in the process and truly see the cost of delays, reworks and wasted labour, this will then pin-point the right areas for correction: is it training? Equipment upgrades? or process adjustments? By removing any guess work we enable the WIN-WIN.
