Scheduling wrap installs when things take longer than expected.

[stickerhed]

Happy New Year!

I'm trying to get a better handle on scheduling jobs. We are a vinyl sign shop that does about a vehicle a day for partial wraps, sometimes full wraps on top of regular signs. I have 2 people that can install wraps and 2 people that can install cut graphics on vehicles and also make the rest of the signs. We don't do any outside installs or fabrication. Our wrap installers are pretty good, but sometimes it just takes longer than expected and/or I need to reprint a panel. We generally use our Epson S80600 eco solvent to print wraps, so prints have to out gas for at least 6 hours. How does your shop handle the situation where a wrap takes more than 1 day or you have to reprint a panel and the wrap can't be finished until the next day? Of course, you already have a wrap install scheduled for the next day. I have an HP 700 latex printer but we've found that the panels don't always line up, plus the Epson printer just prints so nice compared the the HP Latex. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Texas_Signmaker]

Work overtime. Don't schedule based on everything going according to plan, factor in possible delays. It's always better to upfront tell someone a longer timeline and finish earlier than tell them you're behind. Tell them you'll have to leave your car here 2 days. If I was in a bind I didn't wait for outgassing.

 

[stickerhed]

Work overtime. Don't schedule based on everything going according to plan, factor in possible delays. It's always better to upfront tell someone a longer timeline and finish earlier than tell them you're behind. Tell them you'll have to leave your car here 2 days. If I was in a bind I didn't wait for outgassing.

Thanks for the suggestions, we do tell them it may take longer than 1 day in some cases and 1 of my installers will work some overtime, but in most cases I can't get my people to stay 2 or 3 more hours to finish a job. We've only had the Epson for a little over a year and I was told that it's very important to outgas, especially dark colors. Is this not the case? Also, nothing goes as planned

 

[Bonzai901]

Always tell your customers it will take longer than it actually takes to do the job, I ran a HP365 and 800 latex printers and sometimes panels do shift colors and just size little but it does help a lot to print and laminate right after, I recommend to print your panels in order 1-2-3-4-5 and also keep your printhead on good health, ask your installers which what vinyl can they work easier and faster, as it was for me easier to work with Avery vinyl, we also used Caldera rip to do our printing since you can crop and tile on it

 

[somcalmetim]

With Roland Eco-sol I have laminated after 20-30 mins dry time or even had to help it dry with a heat gun then laminate to get something out the door and had no problems...
The vinyl is still noticeably "gooier" with solvent in dark patches so its trickier to weed lettering but sometime you got to do what you got to do...
It can make the job less stress to ask for another day with the vehicle you might not need....buuut it can also cost the customer an extra days vehicle rental and/or an entire days downtime they dont need...
Schedule a good amount of time but I have never held a job back to offgass a small make-up print of lettering/graphics needed to finish a job...give as much time as you can then lam/cut/stick that shit and keep it moving.

 

[pro-UP]

Work overtime. Don't schedule based on everything going according to plan, factor in possible delays. It's always better to upfront tell someone a longer timeline and finish earlier than tell them you're behind. Tell them you'll have to leave your car here 2 days. If I was in a bind I didn't wait for outgassing.

Agreed. We always provide a range to allow for any unexpected delays (life happens). Then, when you hit your ideal time you look great. If things take longer than you expected you are covered by providing a date range instead of an expected exact date. I know not everyone may be able to do this, but it's better to under promise and over deliver.

 

[kcollinsdesign]

Agreed. We always provide a range to allow for any unexpected delays (life happens). Then, when you hit your ideal time you look great. If things take longer than you expected you are covered by providing a date range instead of an expected exact date. I know not everyone may be able to do this, but it's better to under promise and over deliver.

A "date range" is fine when you are a few weeks out, but customers will want a firm drop-off and pick-up time when they schedule to deliver their vehicle. If it is taking longer than planned contact them ASAP and work something out.

 

[signheremd]

We never promise a full wrap in one day. technically the vehicle should sit overnight in your shop before having the customer pick it up. Over 50% of our customers don't pick their vehicles up on the day they are supposed to... better to call a customer and let them know you need another day because of a problem - if you always have problems then time to look at what is causing the problems

 

[rydods]

This time of year, I use the cold weather as an excuse. If we're finishing up a wrap, it's going to sit overnight for the adhesive to bond properly.
You're the expert/professional. Never let the customer dictate the timeline when you want the quality to be the best it can be. If you're doing a vehicle a day, you'll need to put in the extra time after hours as the owner/boss or pay an employee to stay later to finish until you can get your timeline down and less re-prints.

 

[JBurton]

It's always better to upfront tell someone a longer timeline and finish earlier than tell them you're behind.

Right? Set yourself up for success by getting their car early, rather than trying to rush something to completion.

but in most cases I can't get my people to stay 2 or 3 more hours to finish a job.

How frequently is this happening? I mean, once a week is some fine OT, more than that and they need consistency, but if it's a culture that nobody works past 4:29, you gotta get that to change. "hey guys, one of yous is up for a raise, and one of yous is going home early, but I can't figure out who's who..."

 

[stickerhed]

We never promise a full wrap in one day. technically the vehicle should sit overnight in your shop before having the customer pick it up. Over 50% of our customers don't pick their vehicles up on the day they are supposed to... better to call a customer and let them know you need another day because of a problem - if you always have problems then time to look at what is causing the problems

This is good to know, they way everyone talks at conventions they get a wrap done before noon. I will stop feeling guilty about telling people wraps take 2 days. Thanks for your help

 

[signheremd]

This is good to know, they way everyone talks at conventions they get a wrap done before noon. I will stop feeling guilty about telling people wraps take 2 days. Thanks for your help

If your guys clean it properly, including crevices and edges, remove some parts, how can you do it in less than a day (unless you have a NASCAR crew)? If a customer bulks at the time explain that if the vehicle is not properly prepped then they will get a poor wrap with bumps from dirt spots and edges that want to peel. Let them know you take the time to ensure a quality product for them.

 

[JBurton]

If your guys clean it properly, including crevices and edges, remove some parts, how can you do it in less than a day (unless you have a NASCAR crew)? If a customer bulks at the time explain that if the vehicle is not properly prepped then they will get a poor wrap with bumps from dirt spots and edges that want to peel. Let them know you take the time to ensure a quality product for them.

I mean, you can totally get a wrap done before noon. You just can't get a wrap done including prep and finishing included. Makes me wonder if these all star wrappers have crews to do exclusively prep and finish.

(unless you have a NASCAR crew)

I'm pretty sure many NASCAR wrap jobs would be considered unacceptable to folks on this board. That said, they also don't have obstacles that normal cars do, like door handles and headlights. Nobody there is asking if it will look good in 2 years, so much as 500 laps.