Maximizing Customer Satisfaction: How the 5S System Benefits You
Top priorities, when it comes to car repairs, are safety, quality, and efficiency . In order to consistently meet these standards Silver Lining Collision has adopted the 5S system.
The 5S system is a methodology developed in Toyota’s production system by Tahichi Ohno during the 1960’s in Japan and over time has been influenced by various manufacturing principles and Japanese management practices.
The five S’s stand for sort, straighten, shine, standardize, and sustain and are meant to promote efficiency, organization and cleanliness in the workplace.
Sorting is the act of separating necessary tools from the unnecessary items to reduce clutter and make it easier for technicians to find what they need quickly. This leads to faster repairs and less downtime for the customer.
Straightening is arranging the necessary tools and equipment in a way that promotes efficiency allowing the technicians to work more quickly and accurately leading to quality repairs and fewer mistakes.
Shine involves cleaning the workspace to maintain a pristine environment to prevent accidents and injuries while promoting a more professional and welcoming atmosphere for customers.
Standardizing and establishing procedures ensures consistent results and reduces the likelihood of errors which leads to higher quality repairs and fewer return visits from the customer.
Sustain involves continuously maintaining and improving the system to lead to even greater efficiency, quality, and safety in the facility. This helps the repair center to stay ahead of the changing technologies and best practices in the industry.
This system not only keeps our employees safe and efficient but also benefits you, our customer. Faster repairs means less downtime and a faster return to your daily routine. This system allows us to continuously produce high quality repairs giving you the peace of mind that there will be no future issues with your repaired vehicle. The 5S’s increase the safety of our environment for employees and customers alike, reducing the likelihood of accidents or injuries.
Every day our techs start by removing and storing away unnecessary items in their tool boxes. Socket sets, ratchets, wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers and other necessary tools are arranged on their individual carts that stay within reaching distance to the technician throughout the repair process. This organization and storage helps techs locate tools quickly and reduce the risk of misplacing them. Our technicians clean their tools and our porters maintain our facility daily. Our SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) are reviewed and updated each year to ensure we are performing and producing at the highest quality standards.
As someone who cares about their safety and vehicle you should make sure the collision repair center of your choice follows a system like the five S’s. This might not always be readily apparent but here are a few ways you can draw a conclusion as to if they are implementing such a system. Simply look around the repair center and see if the workspace is organized and tidy. Is there clutter anywhere? Ask the center how long it typically takes to complete repairs such as yours. If the center follows a five S system, they should be able to give you a clear and efficient timeline for repairs if they have already given you an initial estimate or consultation. You can also ask directly if your repair center follows the 5S system or a similar procedure.
Overall, by choosing a center like Silver Lining Collison you can expect fast, high quality repairs in a safer and more welcoming environment.