Sometimes we miss things!  It does happen despite our best efforts, employee training, spot checks and careful workmanship.

Our policy is to use the complaints as a springboard for improvement. Recently, for example, we used a complaint to inspire a whole new method of completing detail jobs utilizing written work orders.  It was my Dad’s idea and has worked great so far (thanks Dad!).

So if we do miss a spot, we don’t mind hearing about it because we want to give the best service we can and we like feedback.  Both good and, um, not so good.

This week we are pleased to announce that we re-programmed our big blue vending machine to accept $1 carwash tokens.  It also accepts coins, cash and credit cards.

This machine is cool, in that it is guaranteed to vend.  It has a sensor that must be triggered when a product is selected.  If the product doesn’t fall, it tries again.  If it still won’t work, you get your money back.

We sell (among many other items) Armorall, Magic Tree Air Freshners, glass cleaner, towels, sodas and snacks.  Give it a try and tell us what you think.

A business that is supported by the surrounding community has a responsibility to, in turn, offer support to the community.  A business should be a contributing member to society, doing good things and treating people and the earth with respect and care.

Living these ideals daily isn’t always easy to do.  There are economic obstacles, time constraints, and other priorities in operating a successful business that can take over at any time.  We have found, however, that when ‘giving’ is kept high on the priority list, many good things flow from there.

This is perhaps the ultimate compliment a detailer or detail shop manager can get.  It has been our belief for many years that you will feel better in a clean car and when we renew a vehicle through detailing, the benefits to the customer are immediate.

Hey, hey. Get your car washed today. WORK!

What we have discovered along the way is that, first, everything is service.  Other key principles of our company are: Continuously invest in the business.  Find something in work to be excited about.  Stay positive.  Have fun.  Give 1 on 1 attention in customer relations.  Within every ‘problem’ lies an opportunity. Strive daily to take car cleaning to a higher level.  Focus on value for the customer.  Do right by our Planet Earth.  Be kind and generous in our North Quabbin Community.

Of course there were obstacles along the way to our 15 year mark in business, but thankfully they were few and surmountable.  Now we can continue doing what we do best for the future; washing and polishing and sanitizing your car. We will keep investing in new equipment, training and improvements.  We will donate to good, local people and groups, while we always look for ways to create more value for the customer.

Thank you!  Namaste.  Bless you.  Thank you.  Did I say that already?

Kaizen is a Japanese word for “improvement”. It is a daily activity aiming to eliminate waste. Kaizen is also a process that, when done correctly, humanizes the workplace, eliminates overly hard work (both mental and physical), and teaches people how to perform experiments using the scientific method and how to learn to spot and eliminate waste in business processes.

Kaizen must operate with three principles in place: process and results (not results-only); systemic thinking (i.e. big picture, not solely the narrow view); and non-judgmental, non-blaming (because blaming is wasteful). People at all levels of an organization participate in kaizen, from the CEO down, as well as external stakeholders when applicable. The format for kaizen can be individual, suggestion system, small group, or large group. In Toyota it is usually a local improvement within a workstation or local area and involves a small group in improving their own work environment and productivity.

Whilst Kaizen usually deliver small improvements the culture of continual small improvements and standardisation yields large results in a form of compound productivity improvement. Hence the English translation of Kaizen can be: “continuous improvement”, or “continual improvement.”