Independent Garage Association (IGA) is giving presentations to its members on how to manage labour and time as efficiently as possible.

IGA said with increased customer volumes in the recession, garages will not increase profits unless new work is efficiently managed.

Chairman Jonas Zambakides said: “Effective labour management is vital if a business wishes to achieve optimum profitability. Each job must be completed within an allotted time. Any job that seriously overruns its allocated time may just as well have not been undertaken at all, as the business will be losing money.

“To aid this, every business must have a structured supply line for parts, as if the technicians must wait for parts, the job will be held up, and will cost the business money.”