Blueprinting 
does it make a difference?

I-CAR introduced it’s ‘Blueprinting, Process and Damage Discovery’ course back in 2013. During its initial release it opened the debate regarding the timesaving benefits gained. From those original courses, we have seen the process appear in every major recommendation on improving process.
The ability to recognise damage, record and understand how it will affect workflow is absolutely critical in the modern repair process. As no one repair is the same, the potential for roadblocks at every stage is infinite and when key to key times are a major KPI, the gains made can assist in a better flow of work in any business.
The repair plan is often overlooked in the eagerness to begin the process of collision repair. Quite often when extra damage is found it is in the beginning or middle of the repair, which then has to be halted while supplements are written, new parts ordered and the technician may need to find a new repair to move onto during this stage.
In the Blueprinting process after the initial strip down, everything is reinspected. Measurements, parts and additional damage are noted and then addressed at the beginning before placing the vehicle into the repair flow.
In today’s era of efficiencies, the blue printing process assists every repair. Like anything new that challenges the traditional process people can be sceptical. However, when every leading process system recommends blueprinting, there really isn’t any argument against implementing a process in your business. The continuous monitoring of delays and recognising bottlenecks within a workflow may well be reduced through using blueprinting processes.
As with everything new it can be difficult to implement and at times difficult to maintain as our natural reaction is to ‘do what we have always done’. The reality is that our entire work process and systems are evolving and challenging traditional methods of repair. If your business has four jobs that stop in the middle of the repair after additional damage has been discovered, what effect does this have on the planned workflow?
Sure it might be a few hours or even a day to get the correct parts and authorisations through, but how much of a delay and are the delivery dates still going to be met?
How many phone calls, emails and additional effort has to be made to ensure productivity continues? Blueprinting is a process that helps improve repair quality while streamlining efficiencies, by using a standardised approach to collision repair planning.
The course (BLU01) is suitable for estimators, structural and non-structural technicians and assessors. The course goes beyond the disassembly of damaged parts and writing damage reports to help students uncover hidden damage that impacts the repair process.
All of this streamlines the entire repair process and eliminates the missing clips, badges and of course calibration and diagnostic unknowns that raise their head at the end of the repair through a lack of systemised process.

Visit: www.i-car.com.au/calendar/