Fixed Ops Magazine - 2020 Vol17 02 - 56

B ODY S H O P
MARCH APRIL 2020 || FIXED OPS MAGAZINE

P R OCESS DRI V E N D E S I G N
F OR B ETT E R C O L L I SI O N
REPA I R RE SULTS
BY JUDY FOLK, MANAGER, COLLISION REPAIR DESIGN SERVICES,
SHERWIN-WILLIAMS AUTOMOTIVE FINISHES

ehicles today are more sophisticated than ever. With every new
model introduced there is more
complex technology. We are no longer
talking about mere transportation. We
are talking about complex networks on
wheels.

is to change the strategic process of
the business, so the customer is better
served.

Did you know the average new car comes
with more than 100 million lines of code?
That's ten times more than a Boeing 787
Dreamliner!

Every facility, no matter what size or
shape, can implement a process. There
are no constraints on the size of your
facility, the shape of your building, independent, MSO, consolidator or dealership. You can do this.

Similarly, collision repair facilities that
I visit - whether dealer, independent or
MSO - have evolved from the shops of
previous generations. Repair shops require multiple welders, specialized repair
bays, rivet guns and the latest adhesive
or aluminum systems to repair modern
vehicles. These advanced joining and
bonding methods require specialized
training to go along with them. Also, today's vehicles require diagnostics tools
that have the latest OEM-level capabilities. Advance Driver Assistance Systems
(ADAS) recalibrations are required to ensure vehicles are repaired to manufacturers specifications.
How can your collision repair facilities
evolve to repair these sophisticated vehicles? The answer is Process Driven
Design.
The objective of Process Driven Design

PROCESS is a series of
interdependent activities whose
outcome brings a value.

Think of each step of the collision repair
process and decide what tools, equipment, inventory, space to accommodate
this function and technician training you
need to support that task. Build upon
that, step by step, to pull the vehicle
through the repair process. That is a Process Driven Design.
Have you ever wondered why McDonalds, Burger King or Panera look and
taste the same every time and at every
place you visit while you can never manage to cook your favorite meal the same
as your mom? You may call it standardization but, if you look more closely, it
comes to an undiluted focus on process.
Many organizations have realized this
and are using their core processes as
competitive differentiators while many

others in the same industry are struggling to survive. What are these industry leaders doing differently? One of the
key aspects is developing and nurturing
a process environment. Process culture
instills discipline and rigor to ensure your
collision facility stays on track and employees follow the standard path optimized for that procedure.
Think of a Process Driven Design as a
puzzle to build around the needs of your
technicians. Rather than stuffing your
facility full of outdated, broken, underutilized equipment and tools, you need
to identify what the technicians need to
perform their specific functions. Locating specific tools and inventory close to

THE OBJECTIVE OF
PROCESS DRIVEN
DESIGN IS TO CHANGE
THE STRATEGIC PROCESS
OF THE BUSINESS, SO
THE CUSTOMER IS
BETTER SERVED.

Fixed Ops Magazine - 2020 Vol17 02

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Fixed Ops Magazine - 2020 Vol17 02