Leading lighting specialist, OSRAM, is highlighting poor practices when it comes to bulb fitment. The lighting experts have identified problems in four main areas. 

Alignment
Aligning headlights after bulbs have been replaced ensures that the beam pattern is set in the correct place and the beam pattern is hitting the right points on the road. If a replacement bulb is not fitted correctly it will not work correctly with the headlamp reflectors as intended and so light can be scattered to oncoming traffic. 
This also presents a revenue opportunity for the workshop because, just as wheel tracking and alignment are billable, so is bulb alignment. By charging a small amount for this service, the customer can be reassured their bulbs are giving them the best possible visibility. 

Fitment charges
There is also a prevalent issue of workshops not charging their customers when they fit new bulbs. This creates another revenue stream for the workshop, and while it is a low price, it will add up throughout the year. At this point it also pays to think about upgrading to performance bulbs that offer even more profit margins than standard bulbs.

Replacing in pairs
Purely from a business point of view, replacing in pairs means double the revenue for the workshop. However, from a practical point of view, replacing bulbs in pairs is good practice and means that both bulbs are putting out the same light output and it also stands to reason that if one bulb blows, the other is likely to follow soon after. 

Poor quality
Poor quality bulbs will result in less visibility on the road for the driver and earlier bulb failure. Some can even cause glare to oncoming road users, this could be as a result of the bulbs producing over the maximum lumen output or the geometry of the filament being incorrect. A premium quality product however will have been manufactured with precision engineering, and will give the best light output, last longer and subsequently result in a happier customer. If technicians are fitting lower quality products, they also lose out on an upselling opportunity that could greatly improve profit margins.

Ultimately, headlights are safety critical components, and should therefore be treated the same as other safety components, such as brakes, wiper blades and tyres, which is why workshops should charge for their time and expertise. OSRAM is urging technicians to look into their bulb practices and see if they can be improved, for the sake of workshop profitability and customer service.

For more information on the full OSRAM range visit: www.osram.co.uk/am