Computer-based systems and methods for generating vehicle repair estimates and repair estimates prepared therewith

• US 20060064393A1
• Filed: 09/22/2004
• Published: 03/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: PPG Industries Ohio Incorporated (Nouryon BV)
• Original Assignee: PPG Industries Ohio Incorporated (Nouryon BV)
• Inventors: Orr, Stuart J.
• Application Number:
  US10/946,921
• Publication Number:
  US 20060064393A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/400
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination

Abstract

Disclosed are computer-based systems for generating vehicle repair estimates, such as repair estimates for commercial trucks. Also disclosed are computer-based methods for generating a vehicle repair estimate and vehicle repair estimate reports prepared using such systems and/or methods.

Claims

1. A computer-based vehicle repair estimating system comprising:

(a) at least one database comprising at least one of vehicle make data, vehicle model data, vehicle part subgroup data, or vehicle part data;

(b) at least one vehicle repair estimate generating module in communication with the database, wherein an estimate-generating user can create a vehicle repair estimate; and

(c) at least one database modification module in communication with the database, wherein a database maintenance user can modify the database.

2. The computer-based system of claim 1, wherein each of (a), (b) and (c) reside on a separate computer.

3. The computer-based system of claim 1, wherein the at least one vehicle repair estimate generating module and the at least one database modification module are in communication with the at least one database via the Internet.

4. The computer-based system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle make data comprises at least one of a make name, a make description, or an active status indicator.

5. The computer-based system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle model data comprises at least one of a model name, a related vehicle make, a model description, or an active status indicator.

6. The computer-based system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle part subgroup data comprises at least one of a subgroup name, a subgroup diagram, a related major assembly, a paint overhaul time, a body overhaul time, a subgroup description, a related vehicle make, or a related vehicle model.

7. The computer-based system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle part data comprises at least one of a part name, a part number, a part description, a part price, a region, an indication as to whether the part should be included in calculating paint overhaul time, an indication as to whether the part should be included in calculating labor overhaul time, an indication as to whether the part should be included when selecting an entire assembly, a labor time, included parts, add-on labors, adjacent parts, or add-on parts.

8. The computer-based system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle repair estimate generating module comprises a login interface.

9. The computer-based system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle repair estimate generating module comprises a home interface.

10. The computer-based system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle repair estimate generating module comprises a customer submodule interface.

11. The computer-based system of claim 10, wherein the estimate-generating user can enter customer information onto the customer submodule interface.

12. The computer-based system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle repair estimate generating module comprises a unit submodule interface.

13. The computer-based system of claim 12, wherein the estimate-generating user can enter unit information onto the unit submodule interface.

14. The computer-based system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle repair estimate generating module comprises a rate override submodule interface.

15. The computer-based system of claim 14, wherein the estimate-generating user can enter edits to repair facility data onto the rate override submodule interface.

16. The computer-based system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle repair estimate generating module comprises an estimate submodule.

17. The computer-based system of claim 16, wherein the estimate-generating user can select appropriate part subgroups that require repair and/or replacement via the estimate submodule.

18. The computer-based system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle repair estimate generating module comprises an estimate summary submodule interface.

19. The computer-based system of claim 18, wherein the estimate summary submodule interface illustrates total labor time and rates, parts costs, sublet costs, and tax costs associated with a vehicle repair estimate.

20. The computer-based system of claim 1, wherein the estimate-generating user and the database maintenance user are different.

21. The computer-based system of claim 1, wherein the database modification module comprises a database modification interface.

22. A vehicle repair estimate report prepared by the system of claim 1.

23. A computer-based commercial truck repair estimating system comprising:

(a) at least one database comprising at least one of commercial truck make data, commercial truck model data, commercial truck part subgroup data, or commercial truck part data;

(b) at least one commercial truck repair estimate generating module in communication with the database, wherein an estimate-generating user can create a commercial truck repair estimate; and

(c) at least one database modification module in communication with the database, wherein a database maintenance user can modify the database.

24. The computer-based system of claim 23, wherein each of (a), (b) and (c) reside on a separate computer.

25. The computer-based system of claim 23, wherein the at least one commercial truck repair estimate generating module and the at least one database modification module are in communication with the at least one database via the Internet.

26. The computer-based system of claim 23, wherein the commercial truck comprises a heavy truck.

27. The computer-based system of claim 23, wherein the commercial truck make data comprises at least one of a make name, a make description, or an active status indicator.

28. The computer-based system of claim 23, wherein the commercial truck model data comprises at least one of a model name, a related commercial truck make, a model description, or an active status indicator.

29. The computer-based system of claim 23, wherein the commercial truck part subgroup data comprises at least one of a subgroup name, a subgroup diagram, a related major assembly, a paint overhaul time, a body overhaul time, a subgroup description, a related commercial truck make, or a related commercial truck model.

30. The computer-based system of claim 23, wherein the commercial truck part data comprises at least one of a part name, a part number, a part description, a part price, a region, an indication as to whether the part should be included in calculating paint overhaul time, an indication as to whether the part should be included in calculating labor overhaul time, an indication as to whether the part should be included when selecting an entire assembly, a labor time, included parts, add-on labors, adjacent parts, or add-on parts.

31. The computer-based system of claim 23, wherein the commercial truck repair estimate-generating module comprises a login interface.

32. The computer-based system of claim 23, wherein the commercial truck repair estimate generating module comprises a home interface.

33. The computer-based system of claim 23, wherein the commercial truck repair estimate generating module comprises a customer submodule interface.

34. The computer-based system of claim 33, wherein the estimate-generating user can enter customer information onto the customer submodule interface.

35. The computer-based system of claim 23, wherein the commercial truck repair estimate generating module comprises a unit submodule interface.

36. The computer-based system of claim 35, wherein the estimate-generating user can enter unit information onto the unit submodule interface.

37. The computer-based system of claim 23, wherein the commercial truck repair estimate generating module comprises a rate override submodule interface.

38. The computer-based system of claim 37, wherein the estimate-generating user can enter edits to repair facility data onto the rate override submodule interface.

39. The computer-based system of claim 23, wherein the commercial truck repair estimate generating module comprises an estimate submodule.

40. The computer-based system of claim 39, wherein the estimate-generating user can select appropriate part subgroups that require repair and/or replacement via the estimate-submodule.

41. The computer-based system of claim 23, wherein the commercial truck repair estimate generating module comprises an estimate summary submodule interface.

42. The computer-based system of claim 41, wherein the estimate summary submodule interface illustrates total labor time and rates, parts costs, sublet costs, and tax costs associated with a commercial truck repair estimate.

43. The computer-based system of claim 23, wherein the estimate-generating user and the database maintenance user are different.

44. The computer-based system of claim 23, wherein the database modification module comprises a database modification interface.

45. A commercial truck repair estimate report prepared by the system of claim 23.

46. A computer-based method for generating commercial truck repair estimates comprising:

(a) receiving truck damage information from an estimate-generating user via a damage information input interface;

(b) retrieving repair data from a database comprising at least one of commercial truck make data, commercial truck model data, commercial truck part subgroup data, or commercial truck part data;

(c) illustrating selected repair data in an output interface; and

(d) generating a truck repair estimate report based on the selected repair data.

47. The computer-based estimate of claim 46, further comprising delivering the truck repair estimate report to an output device.