Over a year ago, Jeff Glanzmann, owner of Glanzmann Subaru in Jenkintown, Pa., outfitted his shop with a Stanley Vidmar three-unit configuration comprised of 18 Lista toolboxes and six Lista stainless steel workbenches and overhead storage.
"I have been operating with this toolbox set-up throughout my entire shop for just over a year," he says.
To make the most of the existing space, Glanzmann says, "I had the units centered between every set of two lifts throughout my shop, therefore allowing three technicians to operate out of two bays."
This integrated, modular solution was custom-configured to meet the dealership’s unique application and aesthetic needs. To customize the new workbays, Glanzmann choose from an array of worksurfaces, drawer heights and widths, foam insert layouts, and accessories. Stationary riser shelves provided the option of either open shelving or support for overhead cabinets with retractable, hinged, or sliding doors.
Currently, Glanzmann's shop employs 82, 35 of whom work in the service department. His Subaru dealership provides all types of repair and maintenance services.
Glanzmann says his favorite part of this storage configuration is that it allows him to increase shop capacity and add technicians without the expense of additional shop space or lifts. "Lifts are therefore able to be kept operational on what otherwise would be days off, vacations, etc. In a market where customer service is the driving force behind a service department’s success or failure, servicing customers timely is crucial." He adds, "Our ability to increase capacity quickly allows us to accommodate growth and continue to service our customers the way they need us to."
For future growth Glanzmann has considered programmable keypad locks to eliminate the need for physical keys, so there are no keys to retrieve from exiting personnel; no keys to lose, replace, or steal; and far fewer worries with turnover. These keypad locks also allow technicians to quickly and easily create "keyed-alike" cabinet groupings by changing the user codes in groups of cabinets. The workstations can also be programmed with up to five different user codes at a time and can be changed as often as needed.
