I'm sure most of you have seen something in other catalogs, or possibly in someone else's shop. Usually a magnetic board with little cars. Each car has a repair order number on it, and slides from department to department whenever the car moves. Cute, I guess ... and expensive. Usually about $300 - $400 depending on who's selling. Also, they only work for approximately 20 cars.

For about half as much money, I saw the following system in use in a shop that was using the former Audatec Computerized Management System (now AKZO) back in 1988. (Credit needs to be given to Ted Hill as he originally designed the system.)

If you take a look at the drawing above, you'll see it's simple. Designed to work with our repair order jackets, you just move the jacket from rack to rack as the vehicles move through the shop.

It solves many problems. Some of the benefits are:

• Eliminating the problem of "out of sight, out of mind" ... many times job jackets get stuck in a file drawer and then forgotten. Nobody remembers the job until the customer calls.
• Seeing the jacket/job every day reminds you that you must move cars through the shop to get it out the back door ... and paid.
• You immediately can get your hands on ALL the paperwork for a job.
• You can find where every vehicle is located at a glance.

Simply move the folders from rack to rack as a vehicle moves through the shop. You'll be astounded at how much additional control you'll have -- as well as everyone else in the shop. It works for any size shop, since the repair order racks come in 12, 18, and 24 pocket sizes. In addition, we have rotating 36 pocket racks. All are available from us in only a few days.

I've seen this working in shops that do as few as 25 cars per month to those that do 200. It keeps the work flowing and keeps all the paperwork right at your fingertips.

Streamline your system today, with EasyTrac!