JOHN GESSNER ERIN JOHNSON
Burnsville CPA raises funds for pancreatic cancer research 2A Lockheed Martin to lay off 100 fewer workers than planned 2A Wife of former Minnesota governor, publisher dies at age 99 10A
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DATE ##, 2009 JANUARY 20, 2011
VOLUME 30, NUMBER # VOLUME 31, NUMBER 47
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Eagan auto shop runs on recession, boosted efficiency Superior Service Center has thrived in hard times by Jessica Harper
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INSIDE BIZ FORUM
The reality is early Medicare will cost the state millions, but will cover people already using state resources. PHIL KRINKIE 4A FORUM
DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
The stalled economy and improved efficiency have driven one local auto mechanic into good times. “Business is growing at a rapid pace on the mechanical side as people keep their cars longer,� said Dan Sjolseth, owner of Superior Service Center in Eagan. Superior Service Center’s body shop generated 10 percent more revenue in 2010 than in the previous year, while its repair business grew 30 percent, Sjolseth said. Total revenue has risen as well, to $4 million annually, which has increased profits, he said. As businesses across the nation faced tough layoffs, Sjolseth was able to hire six new employees last year, bringing his total to 30 employees. Sjolseth credits much of this growth to the slow economy and improved efficiency at the shop. “If we can do more without increasing our square footage, it’s a big gain,� he said. Four years ago, Sjolseth implemented an organizational system in which every tool and piece of equipment is placed in a designated spot, mapped, and labeled. Equipment that is unused or rarely used is stored or placed into a recycling or refuse bin. Sjolseth also implemented a detailed system for assessing damage, disassembling vehicles, taking an inventory of parts and filing records.
Gun dealers must be alerted to mentally disturbed people trying to buy a weapon. The law’s loopholes must be closed. DON HEINZMAN 4A FINANCIAL SENSE
Photo by Jessica Harper
By implementing a lean system, Dan Sjolseth, owner of Superior Service Center, has been able to shorten Superior’s average collision repair time from 10 business days to 3.2.
The best gift you can give a child is f inancial literacy. Having children dependent on you as adults hurts them and you. TIM MUNKEBY 5A BUSINESS 101
In Brief
Superior Service Center is located at 3425 Washington Drive in Eagan. Phone: (651) 452-8555 Website: www.SuperiorServiceCenter.com Employees: 30
The setup, borrowed from the Lean Manufacturing principles developed by automaker Toyota, has enabled Superior Service Center to shorten its average collision repair time from 10 business days to 3.2.
Insurance companies often reward this efficiency through bonuses, Sjolseth said. Sjolseth heard about the system from a vendor who implemented the system at his shop. The greatest challenge to implementing the
What you wear on a job interview depends on the job. There are guidelines for picking the right attire. SARA WOODWARD 5A
See Auto, Page 40A
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