Miami Smash Repairs/Bruce Lynton Bodyshop

Awards 2002-08-15

Norton Best New Bodyshop National Finalist


As soon as the McHugh brothers had fully completed their new shop, Miami Smash Repairs, last year, they set about planning a new one.
In a joint venture with dealership Bruce Lynton BMW, Jamie and Mark McHugh have built a new shop next to their existing shop and named it the Bruce Lynton Bodyshop. The shop has six prep bays with infra-red overhead rail system and a booth with infra-red curing arch, all designed and installed by Goran Andersson at Inhab. Room has been allowed for a drive-through booth and if this is built, the existing infra-red arch will be able to travel through both booths.
Within the existing shop, Miami Smash Repairs, which was made fully operational 10 months ago, the brothers have upgraded the rear office area, built a parts storeroom and employed a full-time parts manager. Two new Car-O-Liner scissor-lifts have also been added to the panel shop.
The Miami Smash Repairs paint shop contains two Lowbake drive-through ovens which open onto a canopied courtyard. A laneway connects the courtyard with the front of the property. The panel shop is sectioned in two and features extra entrances/exits for ease of access. Features such as overhead dust extraction, mobile infra-red systems and four Car-O-Liner benches, as well as false walls to contain all the necessary tools, mean the shop is very well presented and equipped.
The shop has to be one of the most efficient in Australia -- a year ago it was approximately 81 per cent efficient, now it averages between 140 and 150 per cent efficient with a weekly high of 178 per cent, mostly thanks to workshop foreman Peter Pinel, said Jamie McHugh. Overall manager Rod Platten has also worked hard to ensure the business runs smoothly; an important factor in the truly efficient workshop. With the new Bruce Lynton Bodyshop, the brothers hope to improve that even further. If that were not enough, once the new shop is functioning properly, the Miami Smash Repairs paint shop will be upgraded with new prep bays and infra-red systems.
Jamie cautions against the idea that all you need to do to improve a shop dramatically is install new management systems and upgrade equipment. "Systems are not the magic answer. If you don't police what the staff are doing and how you use the systems, you won't get anywhere near the full potential from them."
The business is the only Authorised Repairer for BMW, Porsche, Saab, Mini, LandRover, Jeep and Alfa Romeo on the Gold Coast.
The brothers believe working with car manufacturers is the best way to secure the future success of their business. "OEMs are the future," said Mark. "We are not interested in becoming a 'sausage shop' where work is just churned out -- we have streamlined the shop and have great staff so that although we work fast and efficiently, we do the job right."

Who: Mark, Sharon & Jamie McHugh
What: 5000 sq m site
24 employees
BMS, Car-O-Liner
Lowbake, Spies Hecker
Inhab
Where: Miami, Gold Coast
When: Miami Smash Repairs: fully operational, June 2001
Bruce Lynton Bodyshop: opened August 2002