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[postquote quote=115478]
January down 31%; last year was 4th record year in a row despite it fading in Nov & Dec

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no paper reduction because we continue to use paper reports to log and document updates in authorized work when advising technicians.

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everyday I use a sheet of paper with each tech as a column and at the bottom the unassigned jobs

under each tech I write their jobs,  

If the job is held up for whatever reason (parts), authorization, machine shop, using a pencil, I put a parenthesis ( ) around the job which can be erased when the holdup condition has ended.

The job at the top of each column has been in the shop the longest and should be worked on as soon as possible

When I move the unassigned job to a tech, it goes to the bottom of the list.

We use RO Writer which has a Status column on the Work In Progress screen but changing the status is tedious and inefficient.  People claim RO Writer is the best out there.  That may be true but it’s a pathetic statement about the state of software for our profession.

finally – an affirmation  on LHansen’s comment about customers not having to get their own cars.  Check out the new car dealers – all new facilities have drive-in service bays.  In the cold Northeast, this is (to me) a critical statement of where we independents should be going – taking care of the customer with extraordinary service.  I am in a 20 Group (NCM20.com) and 2 shop just built new expensive facilities – I am stunned that they didn’t build sheltered bays for their customers to drive into.

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In Maine, the State Inspection fee for all but 1 county is $12.50 Pass

or Fail. (there is 1 county that has Emissions Testing at a higher

rate).

We note on their invoice that if the work required to bring the vehicle

into compliance is performed elsewhere, the $ 12.50 re-inspection fee in

assessed.