Smithfield Crash Repairs
Awards 2002AAMI Autobody Repairer of the Year (Large Shop): SA & NT
Larry Napoli started his apprenticeship at Smithfield Crash Repairs in 1976. Now he and his brothers own the place.
The Napoli brothers (Larry, Frank, Pat, Joe, Edward and Tony) have big plans for their big shop. Set on three acres of land, Smithfield Crash Repairs has plenty of room to grow, and that is exactly what the brothers intend to do. Already a good-looking shop, the office area will be expanded, the paint shop will be improved with an infra-red overhead rail system in the prep area and possibly an infra-red arch, the mechanical workshop will be relocated to another building, an undercover quoting and presentation area will be built, the reception area will be expanded and revamped. "We're gearing up for volume and productivity," said Frank.
The shop has been using the BMS payroll incentive program and the PSC International management systems since September 2001 and after starting out at a below-average 66 per cent efficient, the shop now sits at 110 per cent on average, with peaks above 130 per cent. "We're aiming for 140-150 per cent with the new paint shop, we just have to get on that [PSC International] planning board all the time," said Frank. "The way we run our shop now, with greater efficieny and management, and staff working together with better conditions and equipment has created a more enjoyable and economical working environment," he added.
The brothers set about gaining as much insight from others in the industry as possible before embarking on their quest to improve their shop. They visited last year's AAMI Autobody Repairer of the Year, Blackburn Motor Body, in Melbourne and Craig Hall Bodyworks in Canberra. "We learnt a lot from both of those shops and have implemented some of their ideas here," said Frank.
As at Craig Hall Bodyworks, each panel technician works in two bays at a time. One of the bays has a scissor-lift to improve productivity by allowing easier access and more comfortable working heights. The panel shop has two Globaljig Quickbenches as well as the new Globaljig Super Rotax with hydraulic pulling arm. "We were a bit apprehensive about the cost but in the long run it will pay for itself. It's engineered well and there is back-up in Adelaide. The teeth system saves a lot of time because you can move the arm anywhere without having to take it up and down," said Frank of the Super Rotax.
The shop is a CGU Preferred Repairer as well as an SGIC Quality Repairer and approximately 43 per cent of its work comes from these two insurers. Other insurers make up the bulk of the rest of the
Who: Napoli brothers
What: 23 employees
Lowbake
Spies Hecker
BMS, PSC
Auto-Quote
Globaljig
Where: Smithfield, SA
When: Since 1987