Tackling Time Management as a PDR Technician

Whether we assign a dollar value to it or not, time is valuable to us. There are lots of different ways to tackle the issue of time management — you can download apps, adjust your sleep time, create lists, etc. But if you don’t fully understand why it’s important for you to better manage your time, those apps and lists aren’t going to help you. 

You have to first look at the big picture. Get a handle on why managing your time effectively is important, and what you stand to gain from it. You can get started by reviewing these 8 reasons why time management is crucial to perform your job successfully: 

1. Time is limited- No matter how you slice it, there are only 24 hours in a day. There are many moving parts associated with performing your job and down time is non existent. For example, if your client is a no show this is not the time to sit around. This is an opportune time to check your social media, respond to emails, clean your shop, organize your kit etc. Downtime is not to be wasted time.
2. You can accomplish more with less effort- When you learn to take control of your time, you improve your ability to focus. And with increased focus comes enhanced efficiency, because you don’t lose momentum. You’ll start to breeze through tasks more quickly (the workday will also seem to fly by).
3. Improved decision-making ability- Whether you rely on a time-chunking technique or discover the power of list-making, you’ll soon find that a nice side benefit of good time management skills is the ability to make better decisions. When you feel pressed for time and have to make a decision, you’re more likely to jump to conclusions without fully considering every option. We want you to consider all options and think about every obstacle in its entirety. Through effective time management, you are in control and eliminate the pressure that comes from feeling like you don’t have enough time. When this is done you’re able to diminish your chances of making a bad decision.
4. Become more successful in your career- Time management is the key to success. When you provide a customer an estimated time of completion it is important to keep your word. We understand curve balls will occur, but it is important to eliminate this as much as possible. Never rush a repair. Be realistic with repair times, always give yourself more time than needed. This will allow your customer to plan their day and not stand over you if you aren't finished in time.
5. Learning opportunities are everywhere- Obviously, the more you learn, the more valuable you are to your team that depends on you. And great learning opportunities are around you, if you’ve got time to stop and take advantage of them. Taking the initiative to look at new tools or techniques online without being asked to is a great one. You never know what you will come across that can help you out one day if you're stuck in a jam. We will give you the training but effort will need to be put in off the clock as well. You only get out what you put in in this industry.

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6. Reduce stress- When you don’t have control of your time, it’s easy to end up feeling rushed and overwhelmed. And when that happens, it can be hard to figure out how long it’s going to take to complete a task. Once you learn how to manage your time, you no longer subject yourself to high levels of stress. Effective time management and planning ahead can eliminate a lot of stress.
7. Time management in your personal life- Everyone has family responsibilities, errands, and maintain upkeep of their home. Managing time in your personal life is vital to perform your job. Life happens, however, doing your best to manage time in your

personal life will eliminate distractions while you are on the job. These distractions can impact your speed, performance on the repair, and attitude towards your customer. Proper planning ahead will ensure things run smoothly on and off the clock. 

8. Self-discipline is valuable- Lastly, when you practice good time management, you leave no room for procrastination. Never put things off or wait until the last minute for anything. We want everyone to adopt the attitude, “If I see something that needs to be done, I will do it”. This is a valuable skill that will begin to impact other areas of your life where a lack of discipline has kept you from achieving a goal.

This Triangle is a model of the constraints that will effect PDR repair time

Leverage 

This is the most overlooked thing when setting up for a repair. Usually, a less experienced technician will focus on targeting only the center of the dent. However, if you take into account leverage you most likely can find a better angle that will result in less fatigue as you work. I know all to well that when you are straining and stressed, it can greatly impact the time spent and the overall finished product. For example, I will remove and reinstall an entire door panel for the sole reason to gain better leverage. 

Line of Sight 

It's your angle, distance, and strength of the gradient(Fade) needed to repair. The right light positions are critical for successfully being able to see what you are repairing. Creases we will always position your light and probably yourself parallel from the crease whether it's high or low. At the start of most dents being as close to the dent initially will help see the dead center and will always result in accurate pushes.

Accessibility 

Very simple, it’s what you need to remove or set up to access the back side of the damage you are fixing. Removing door panels, window glass, etc may expedite the repair or also add more time needed. This will be on a case to case bases and you will need to use your best judgment