Safety Bay Panel Beaters
Awards 2002AAMI Autobody Repairer of the Year (Small Shop): WA
David Colclough took over the management of his shop in 1994 and then bought out the retiring owner in 1998. He has not looked back since.
David Colclough took over what he terms a "very run-down" facility in 1998, refurbished the building, improved equipment levels and focussed the business on the corporate market. The business has since grown by approximately 400 per cent under his management.
To achieve this objective Colclough implemented a quality management system throughout the company's operations to ensure Safety Bay Panel Beaters meets the high service standards of ISO 9002.
Under Colclough's management, Safety Bay Panels has grown every year allowing the business to build a strong staff base. "Over the years I have employed some very dedicated staff. They are a tremendous asset to my business and I would not have been able to achieve this without them," he said. "I also believe in employing apprentices, without them the industry would die out, they are the backbone and need proper guidance to ensure the industry survives," he added.
Safety Bay Panel Beaters has successfully targeted the fleet and corporate sectors, which now account for a significant portion of the company's work. "The panel business is a very competitive industry and in this area we are competing with other panel shops for business. In targeting alternative work my business has been able to avoid the hardships suffered by nearby shops. In the last year a new freeway bypassed Rockingham and goes straight through to the southwest causing some of the area's industrial turnover to drop significantly and shops are finding times very tough," said Colclough.
Colclough has installed a Monarch full down-draft infra-red spray booth to reduce paint curing times at the same time as greatly reducing emissions to the outside atmosphere through the filtration system. Colcough has also improved equipment levels and refurbished the buildings. Two tow trucks also operate from Safety Bay Panel Beaters adding a further source of income and work into the shop.
Safety Bay Panel Beaters has been a member of the QVR network for over six years and is very active within the organisation, visiting other member's shops and discussing ideas and strategies. "It's important to be active in the industry -- you not only put something back into the industry, but you can get a lot out of visiting and talking to other people within the industry. It's amazing what you can learn and implement," Colclough said.
Who: Dave Colclough
What: 7 full-time staff
Monarch infra-red booth
PPG
Where: Rockingham, WA
When: Since 1998