B&I Panel & Paint
NORTON/AP&P BEST NEW BODYSHOP QUEENSLANDB&I Panel & Paint
Last year Ray Bathurst took a deep breath and decided it was time to move his shop. He purchased a factory building in the Brisbane suburb of Geebung and sat down with Boss Australia consultant Alan Shotton to plan a new shop. He wanted the classic U shop work flow that would lift productivity ‘ a problem in the old shop. There was considerable building modification to be done at the new address as walls were moved and EPA issues addressed. Most of the equipment had to be new. And there was the Boss productivity based pay system to introduce to the technicians.
Happily, it all went in the right direction. Without increasing staff B&I has improved productivity by 40 per cent, the technicians are happy and keen, and the work providers are favouring the shop with enough work to keep it fully booked. The shop carries out repairs for Allianz, RACQ, AAMI, and Vero.
The new shop is well equipped, with Car-o-liner benches and Car-o-tronic electronic measuring. There are two drive-through Seetal ovens, one with a tall ceiling to accommodate high vans. They share a fully ventilated mixing room with Spies Hecker refinishing products. The shop uses only dry sanding and dust extraction with eight Festo units. There is a selection of Fan welders, including an inverter in anticipation of aluminium and high strength steel repairs. Parts storage is upstairs ‘ not accessed by the usual narrow staircase but a fork lift to an open gate.
The new shop brings with it the green licence awarded to the old shop. All water is filtered before going into the sewerage system, and exhaust gasses from the shop are also filtered before being released.
Out front, the reception and office area was totally rebuilt to offer an attractive work and customer environment. Undercover parking was built in front of reception, and every door in the shop is security coded so that only staff, not customers, can gain access to the shop. There are two lunchrooms and a training room full of gymnasium equipment for staff use.
Quoting is done with Auto Quote and the Boss scheduling system takes care of the workshop.
This is a shop right at the beginning of a new lease of life. Ray Bathurst has surrounded himself with young, ambitious technicians and management. It is really for them, and a love for the smash repair industry that he has torn down his old world to build a new one.
POWELL'S COMMENT
Like all new shops, B&I has some refinement ahead but the vital signs are good. Ray Bathurst has made a big commitment, but has the determination and the people to make it work.