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Letter to the Editor

Try Lean - and Mean It

Ah, Springtime! It is that time of year when the birds sing and the daffodils pop up. Here in Cleveland, INSIGHT’s hometown, we gaze in awe at the sun, that made only a handful of appearances over Lake Erie throughout the cold months. And, defying all odds - and all logic - we dream again of fielding a pennant-winning baseball team. Spring is indeed a season of hope!

With swimsuit season looming, our feature article’s title should catch the reader’s eye: Going Lean. “Lean production” is actually a well-named concept, because, just like a healthy body, a healthy collision repair facility is lean, coordinated, and energetic.

Anyone who has dieted - and who has not? - knows that successful weight loss begins with a realistic study of the body’s status quo - eating habits, body fat, exercise, muscle tone, overall health, age, etc. Lean production requires careful appraisal of the business operation as a whole organism, and setting up a regimen to get it into the best shape possible, and then working to keep it in shape.

INSIGHT urges shop owners and managers to try taking a “lean” look at operations.

I am happy to report that INSIGHT’s new service, the Prevailing Rates Survey Program, has generated lots of interest across the U.S. since its lauch in March. Many regional and local shop associations have signed on already. See page 17 for information.

The National Auto Body Council (NABC) is kicking off a new charitable campaign (See page 12) that sounds like another winner. Relying on the well-known generosity of Collision Repair Industry participants, the “Leave Something Behind” program aims to do a good deed in each city that hosts a national meeting of collision repairers, with funds donated on the spot. A simple yet elegant idea that should let us see a welcome mat wherever we get together.

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