In the current automotive sectordecide to embark on the path leading to theopening a machine shop can be very profitable. Considering the amount of cars registered in Italy, in 2023 approx. 1.5 million more than 2022repairs and maintenance, as well as all other services that a machine shop can offer, are potentially very profitable.
When deciding to venture out on this path, it is important to be aware of thebureaucratic process to be followed, of the requirements to be respected and possible services to offer. But what do we mean when we talk about machine shop? It is currently understood to be a car repair activity regulated by the law 224/12 where, in order to meet the new requirements for cars with electronic components, mechatronics experts work, who add electronic skills to their mechanical skills.
L'workshop activities can deal with mechatronic, bodywork and tyre repair, system installation. It is important to assess the choice of suitable premises for the business, considering the acoustic impact and emissions into the atmosphere. Complying with safety, practicability, urban planning and hygiene regulations is essential for opening a machine shop, and for this reason it is a good idea to rely on experts in the sector and appoint a technical manager for the activity.
To work in the automotive sector and within the new machine shops you need to have a solid preparation behind which, in the contemporary post-diploma educational landscape. can be offered by ITS, Istituti Tecnologici Superiori. The ITS Automotive Service course is structured to provide comprehensive training in vehicle maintenance and repair, integrating advanced technical skills with a focus on customer reception and after-sales services.
Through lectures with industry professionals and 900 hours of internships in leading companies in the area, students will learn in-depth knowledge of mechanical, electrical and electronic systems, using advanced diagnostic tools (ADAS). The course includes modules dedicated to customer experience management, from reception to after-sales service, preparing multi-faceted professionals capable of meeting the needs of the automotive sector with advanced technical and relational skills.
Basic services in a machine shop
A wide range of activities can be carried out in a mechanic's workshop and more and more services can be offered to meet customers' needs, from hiring vehicles for trucking to repairing electronic components.
One service that workshops can offer is, for example, a checklist for deadlinesOften people only look at the inspection due date, but brake oil, engine oil, coolant and, in the case of LPG models, the gas cylinder, also need regular checks and replacements. Often these deadlines are ignored or the checks are forgotten, so creating a check list for your customers can be a very useful and mutually beneficial service.
Paying attention to aesthetics and cleanliness can be very important to some customers, and offering services that include interior washing, sanitising, exterior polishing, and headlight polishing can increase loyalty. These are not services that those working inside the workshop have to perform, but those running the business may decide to rely on companies that offer this type of service to provide their customers with services parallel to those of the machine shop.
Again relying on other companies, but through the internal mediation of workshop managers, one can offer repair services for chipped glass or bodywork damaged by hail, tyre alignmentetc. Communicating with one's clients to know what each one's needs are and understanding how to meet them is fundamental to being able to increase one's profits directly or, sometimes, even through some collateral activities from which one can earn a percentage of the cost of the treatment.
Author of the article
ITS MOVE - Editor
