FSG Cut Costs For Fleets With ‘Lean Flow’
Fleet Support Group, the UK’s largest independent vehicle management company, are making substantial savings for businesses who use accident bodyshops implementing FSG’s industry-leading ‘lean-flow’ management techniques. And while the impact of ‘lean-flow’ delivers significant benefits to FSG’s fleet customers it is also improving operating productivity at the company’s nationwide network of bodyshops achieving five to six hours work per vehicle per day as opposed to the industry average work time of approximately two hours per day.
As a result, the ‘lean-flow’ approach, which has been developed by constraint management training experts I & J Munn, of Melton Mowbray, promises to deliver: A virtual 100% on-time delivery of repaired vehicles; A shorter key-to-key process time; A real productivity increase for bodyshops of 20-25%; Increased throughput of cars of 15% or more.
Julian Bailey-Watts, FSG’s Technical Services Director, said: “Our bodyshops that have so far introduced ‘lean-flow’ are getting vehicles back on the road faster than anyone else. This massively reduces administration costs, means our fleet customers are getting their vehicles back quickly and that significantly increases customer satisfaction.
“Reducing key-to-key time is absolutely paramount for FSG and our customers because it means saving money. Many people lose sight of the overall cost of vehicle repairs when they look at the hourly labour rate, repair times etc. The actual bottom line is how long the vehicle is off the road because a reduction in that time cuts overall repair costs dramatically.
“Every moment a vehicle is off the road costs money in relief vehicles and management time. Reducing that time period produces tremendous savings. Being able to give our fleet customers the actual turnaround time of an accident claim enables FSG to give true and absolute value for money to our customers.
“We are now encouraging many of our bodyshops to achieve industry-beating fast turnaround crash damage repairs. This programme delivers huge benefits for both the bodyshops as well as our fleet customers.”
Lean-flow uses many of the skills from manufacturing processes to drive through bodyshop efficiencies and change traditional behaviours.
Mr Bailey-Watts said: “FSG is completely focused on delivering top-class customer service every time. What every fleet operator requires is a high-quality, fast vehicle repair and the promise that it is carried out on time.”
One of the first of FSG’s bodyshop network to introduce ‘lean-flow’ was the Manchester-based Academy Group, which is now recording a 97% on-time repair rate after introducing ‘lean-flow’ 12 months ago. Managing Director Jason Mawdsley said: “‘Lean-flow’ has enabled the company to have guaranteed on-time delivery because we can plan the business better. For customers, including fleets, it means than when we say a vehicle is going to be ready; it is ready.
“Sometimes, in the past, we over promised and under delivered. Now we promise and deliver at the same time. Before ‘lean-flow’ our key-to-key time was running at about 14 days, but we are now down to 4.6 days which gives a big advantage to our customers. ‘Lean-flow’ gives us a competitive edge.”
Mr Bailey-Watts said: “We thought that the Academy Group was one of the bodyshops in our network that was at the top of its game. We didn’t believe that ‘lean-flow’ would bring very much to them. As it transpires both ourselves and Academy have been astounded by what has been achieved.”
A second FSG bodyshop to implement ‘lean-flow’ is Scarborough-based Trenhams Accident Repair Centre, which is now achieving 98% on-time delivery. Managing Director Mick Trenham said: “‘Lean-flow’ has meant at least a 20% increase in vehicle throughput, which is the ultimate aim. We have always tried to achieve high throughput but ‘lean-flow’ has been a brilliant tool to enable us to achieve our ambition.”
Mr Bailey-Watts added: “’Lean-flow’ has been a revelation to us and, as a consequence, we are looking at developing similar practices in other areas of our business.”
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