Planet Smash Repairs

AWARDS 2006 AAMI

AAMI/AP&P AUTOBODY REPAIRER OF THE YEAR REGIONAL WINNER (SMALL SHOP) QLD

Planet Smash Repairs

Under the ownership and management of Dean Turner, this shop is doing everything right. It achieves an output you would expect from a much larger shop, yet maintains quality at the same time.
It was only three years ago that Dean Turner built the shop on a vacant block in the Kawana industrial estate, after running out of room in his single shed in a nearby suburb. The change gave him the opportunity to plan from the ground up. He put in two drive-through booths (one Seetal and one Zodiac) in the middle of the shop rather against a wall at one end. Disassembly, alignment(using Auto Robot and Z racks) and panel work run along one wall. Each bay serviced by an overhead power and air combination unit designed and built by Turner himself. The three car prep bay is against the far wall facing the spray booths. It will soon have a new IRT rail system installed. Washing and detailing is annexed to the main building.
Paint of choice is Standox and quoting is done using Auto Quote. Welders, headed up by Car-o-liner models, include inverter spots.
Although there is an effective board system for scheduling the company is shopping around for an electronic system.
While it is undoubtedly well equipped, this shop wins big time on attitude. Dean Turner applies optimism and an eye for detail to his business. Every finished job that goes out is followed by a survey to see if the owner is happy with it. The company achieves an 85 per cent return on the surveys.
"Most of them are complimentary," Turned says, "but every so often there is a critical one. We value these because it shows us how to improve."
Another Turer innovation is to get rid of the Friday rush. The shop takes in up to ten cars a day, every day. This keeps the work flowing and means that technicians don't walk into an empty shop every Monday morning.
If appearance means anything, Planet wins there too, with clean, well appointed reception and offices. The shop is swept every day and washed once a week using a special machine ? again built by Turner.
There are plans for expansion and the continuing drive to do things better. In many shop this would make for a grim boss, but Dean Turner goes about his work with a smile and an easy laugh.
While most shops regard the demands of complying with OH&S laws beyond them, Planet has become pro-active, looking for the benefits rather than the imposition.
Planet, and especially Dean Turner, is a shop that is destined to be a leader, not only in Queensland, but Australia.

POWELL'S COMMENT
Planet is superb in every aspect from its thoughtfully planned work-flow, appropriate equipment to highly skilled tradespeople. A benchmark shop.