Repair Process Management (RPM) in Melbourne is one of the new breed of repair facilities that has taken the industry to the next level.
RPM CEO Peter Bubeck saw where the industry was heading and made plans to take advantage of the opportunities he saw in this rapidly changing market. Bubeck took over his parent’s shop, Rugolo Motor Body Works, in 1997.
While perfecting processes there, the NRMA request for proposal process began. While many just hoped to retain their approved repairer status, the ambitious and bright Bubeck thought a whole lot bigger.
He has opened not only one, but two NRMA fast repair facilities in Melbourne and they are both stunning shops. Yes, there’s bold, smart livery and a modern, comfortable reception area, but it’s the processes, procedures and planning behind the whole business that really impresses.
Bubeck worships at the altar of process. In order to achieve the highest levels of efficiency and workshop flow, he has drilled down into every single aspect of vehcile repair and stripped away anything unnecessary, anything that could create hiccups or bottlenecks.
“We over-complicate this business, it’s really very simple,” he says.
It is the Sunshine West facility that wins this regional award. Inside the purpose-built 3,472 sq m facility is a plain, clean, brilliantly planned workshop packed with the latest equipment and highly trained and motivated staff.
Its a drivable repair facility – the cars come into the workshop and face each other in two lines – on the right, repairs in progress on the left paint preparation. The Rupes dust extractor units hang from the ceiling between the rows.
Once the work is carried out, the cars then go to the very impressive array of GFS prep bay and spraybooths which Bubeck says have lightning flash off times.
One of the booths also has a clever parts carousel.
This large repair facility has a tiny parts room. One of the advantages of being an urban repairer is that you can have more than one delivery a day. However Bubeck has gone to great lengths to create excellent working relationships with all his parts suppliers, as regular and accurate deliveries are vital to the shop’s cycle time.
To this end he pays his invoices within three days and has regular reviews with all of his suppliers to see if anything can be improved at either end.
The Sunshine shop also has its own training room. The more highly trained his staff, the better his business, says Bubeck.
All his admin staff have been trained to a minimum Cert IV standard, I-Car training is offered to all the relevant staff and the business takes advantage of the 3M training program.
These two rapid repair facilities seemed to have whetted Bubeck’s appetite, we expect to be judging at least one more new shop next year.
Powell’s comments
This is an excellent example of a new generation repair centre with processes and procedures in place to identify any hold ups or problems before they happen. This is a critical factor in a high volume flow centre. A good example of blue printing.