CARRUSLiNK

    Guide · Workshop capacity management

    Workshop capacity management: measure real capacity, avoid overbooking and idle time

    An auto workshop typically runs at 70-80% capacity utilization on paper, but only 50-60% in practice, because scheduling relies on gut feeling rather than data. Workshop capacity management means knowing your technicians' actual productive hours, lift utilization, and average service durations — and using data to fill the calendar accurately.

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    Kort svar (TL;DR)

    Workshop capacity management requires four things: knowing technician productive hours (typically 6-7 out of 8 hours), average service duration (based on history), workstation/lift capacity, and parts delivery lead times. CARRUSLiNK delivers a real-time dashboard so you can see workload per technician, per lift, and per week, allowing you to adjust staffing or pricing.

    This is what poor capacity management looks like

    • The workshop is booked 6 weeks out, but 25% of slots are empty
    • Technicians work overtime on Friday, but have downtime on Monday
    • Nobody knows how much time a typical service takes
    • Holidays are scheduled without considering workload
    • Peak periods are solved with 'we'll squeeze it in', not planning
    • Management doesn't know whether to hire more staff or raise prices

    7-step playbook for digital capacity management

    1

    1. Measure productive time per technician

    Technicians log start/stop per job. Typical productive time is 6–7 out of 8 hours (coffee, lunch, tidying up are not productive time).

    2

    2. Estimate service types based on history

    Each service type has an average time based on actual work performed. Oil change ≈ 45 min, tyre change ≈ 30 min, brakes ≈ 90 min.

    3

    3. Map lift and workstation capacity

    Each lift has hours per day and types (light, heavy). Reception cannot book a heavy vehicle on a light lift.

    4

    4. Realtids-belastnings-dashboard

    View booked percentage per technician, per lift, and per week. Identify weeks with over- or under-utilisation.

    5

    5. Automatic reallocation during holidays and sickness

    When a technician is out, the system automatically reallocates jobs to others with the same skillset.

    6

    6. Dynamic pricing during peak periods

    High-demand weeks can carry rush surcharges or higher rates. Weeks with downtime can feature promotional offers.

    7

    7. Monthly report: actual vs. planned

    See where you lost time, where you overbooked, and which service types consistently take longer than estimated. Use data to adjust.

    What you get with digital capacity management

    Realtids-belastning pr. mekaniker

    The workshop manager sees who is overbooked and who has availability before the day begins.

    Belastnings-dashboard for ugen

    View booked percentage per technician, per lift, and per week. Identify bottlenecks.

    Automatic reallocation during absence

    Holidays and sickness are reallocated automatically—no panic on Monday morning.

    Better calendar utilisation

    Auto-booking from waitlist when slots open up. Gaps are filled.

    Advarsler ved overbooking

    The system warns if a week is > 85% booked.

    Data for management

    Decide whether to hire more staff, raise prices, or adjust staffing levels.

    Gut feeling vs data-driven capacity

    AreaMavefornemmelseKapacitetsstyring (CARRUSLiNK)
    Produktiv tidUkendtMeasured per technician
    Service-typer estimatForeman guessesHistorik-baseret, opdateres
    Lift-belastningMester serAuto-allokering
    Belastnings-overblikMandag morgenReal time
    Vacation and sick leaveAd-hocAuto-omfordeling
    PricingStatiskDynamisk ved spidsbelastning
    RapportIngenMonthly actual vs planned
    BeslutningerMavefornemmelseData

    Frequently asked questions about workshop capacity management

    Measure the true capacity

    30-min demo. We show the utilization dashboard, auto-reallocation, and how to spot bottlenecks before they cost you customers.