Productivity
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Articles
Why Auto Shops Are Shifting to 5S
Walk into a service bay today and you can usually tell pretty quickly how it runs. Some bays feel crowded and reactive. Others feel calm, even when they are busy. More shops are moving toward the second version. You see fewer loose tools, more shadowed foam drawers, clearer storage, and workspaces that look the same […]
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Articles
The More Productive MRO
In aviation maintenance, productivity isn’t about rushing—it’s about removing friction so technicians can do precise work faster, safer, and with fewer interruptions. Every minute an AOG aircraft sits idle is expensive. Every misplaced tool becomes a potential FOD event. Every re-opened panel, missing sign-off, or repeated trip back to the tool room quietly stacks delay […]
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Articles
Affordable 5S for Your Facility
Lean initiatives don’t have to mean expensive. For many manufacturers, the barrier to adopting 5S (Sort, Set in order, Shine, Standardize, Sustain) isn’t philosophy—it’s the perception that you need a greenfield rebuild, new automation, or a six-figure consulting engagement to see results. In reality, 5S is the most budget-friendly way to unlock throughput, increase productivity, […]
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Articles
Implementing a 5S Program at Your Auto Dealership — Why Technicians can finally find that 10mm socket.
Walk any high-performing service department and you’ll see the same pattern: tools where techs expect them, clean benches, mirrored bays, and managers who can spot a problem at a glance. That’s 5S—Sort, Set in order, Shine, Standardize, Sustain—adapted from manufacturing and now essential for dealer service operations that run like micro-factories. The good news: you […]
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Articles
Starting Smart: The Right Tool Set for New Technicians
When new automotive technicians graduate from technical school, the pressure to purchase a massive tool kit and full-size toolbox hits hard. Peer pressure, combined with the big, beautiful boxes – it’s hard to resist. But here’s the reality: for the first 6 to 9 months, most new mechanics spend their days on the quick service […]
