Clawing for more efficiency: Latest tools to enhance shop throughput

The world is changing faster than ever, but one constant that remains in the maintenance game is that efficiency equals success. At the shop floor level, the way to do this is making sure your technicians have the training and tools they need to maximize throughput in the bay and uptime in the fleets.  

Most managers are already doing this somewhat, as the latest Fullbay State of Heavy-Duty Repair Report found four out of five shops offer PPE like safety glasses and gloves, with a third providing boots. The question is what kind of PPE are you providing: shoddy gloves that rip on a steel bracket or reinforced ones that offer protection and dexterity? Because if you cheap out, techs either won’t wear gloves or they’ll slow down jobs. It’s the same with boots. Uncomfortable footwear can impact the whole body over time and cause missed work and less focus.

Now consider how the wrong tools and equipment everywhere in the shop can cost you minutes or hours more per repair, to say nothing of what it tells employees about how you value their time and comfort. On this last point, remember that as the decade marches on, clawing for quality techs will likely turn the game of maintenance into an all-out war.

We hope our guides to the latest and gear and tools will help you prepare for that day, because picking winning tools for your shop now could very well determine your future. Check out the digital version HERE.

You can also scroll through our latest specific tool galleries by clicking the links below:

Spring 2025 power tools guide 

Spring 2025 diagnostic tool guide

ICYMI: Scenes from TMC 2025 Expo