Source:
Chief Automotive, part of Dover's
VSG (Vehicle Service Group)How fast can technicians repair a vehicle? It depends on the damage. It also depends on whether or not the damage is accurately measured in the first place. This includes the damage on the surface, and the damage that lies underneath.
Laser systems are the most accurate.
There are three types of measuring systems: point-to-point systems, ultrasound systems and laser systems. Laser systems sweep the vehicle in a matter of seconds, supplying an accurate readout of the necessary adjustments and giving a better estimate before a technician makes a pull. Not only do lasers work fast, they work smarter by doing things right the first time. Point-to-point and ultrasound systems rely on the speed of the technician to do the measuring and calculating, which can take more time and leave plenty of room for human error.
Better blueprinting lays a solid foundation for the repair.
Another benefit to 360-degree measuring is a more efficient blueprinting process. With an accurate assessment of the damage and up-to-date vehicle specs from a laser measurement system, everything is available to create a better repair plan. That means there will be an appropriate cost for the amount of labor and the type of service that will be performed, plus there will be a better idea of how long the repair should take. Both of these things minimize surprises for customers and wasted time for the shop, which is a win-win.
Consider Chief.
The Chief Meridian™ Live Mapping™ System with the Galileo™ scanner saves time at virtually every step of the repair process. With Meridian, techs can measure up to 45 individual points on a vehicle at the same time. The data is collected in real time, during the process of pulling, ensuring a correct pull the first time.