SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ENSURING COMPLETENESS OF AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR

• US 20110196800A1
• Filed: 02/08/2011
• Published: 08/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Square Box Systems Limited
• Original Assignee: Square Box Systems Limited
• Inventors: Billington, Jack, SACHIRE, ELAINNA
• Application Number:
  US13/022,797
• Publication Number:
  US 20110196800A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/317
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/018 Certifying business or products

Abstract

A system and method of ensuring completeness of automotive repair according to various aspects of the present invention comprises a criteria compliance system linked to a criteria analysis system. The criteria compliance system is adapted to provide a framework for relaying third party requirements to a repair facility. The criteria compliance system may also collect information regarding the third party requirements, such as which requirements are performed by the repair facility. The criteria analysis system analyzes the collected information to identify any noncompliances between the third party requirements and actions taken by the repair facility and may reduce the need for human inspection to ensure that a repair facility has complied with the third party requirements.

Claims

1. A system for managing compliance with third party process requirements by a repair facility during a vehicle repair process, comprising:

a criteria compliance system adapted to;

present the repair facility with a predetermined set of repair specifications corresponding to the vehicle repair process;

collect repair information from the repair facility pertaining to the predetermined set of repair specifications; and

save the repair information; and

a criteria analysis system linked to the criteria compliance system and adapted to process the saved repair information to identify any noncompliance with the predetermined set repair specifications.

2. A system for managing compliance with third party process requirements by a repair facility according to claim 1, wherein the criteria compliance system comprises a data entry form corresponding to each step in the vehicle repair process.

3. A system for managing compliance with third party process requirements by a repair facility according to claim 2, wherein:

the data entry form is adapted to be presented via an electronic display device; and

the repair information is received via a computer terminal.

4. A system for managing compliance with third party process requirements by a repair facility according to claim 1, further comprising a database coupled to the criteria analysis system, wherein the database is adapted to store the saved repair information corresponding to repairs performed on different vehicles.

5. A system for managing compliance with third party process requirements by a repair facility according to claim 4, wherein the criteria analysis system is further adapted to process the repair information in the database to identify at least one of noncompliance rates, process variability, fraud, cost variance, and effectiveness of improvement efforts.

7. A system for managing compliance with third party process requirements by a repair facility according to claim 1, the criteria analysis system comprises a feedback system adapted to identify areas of improvement within the repair process.

6. A system for managing compliance with third party process requirements by a repair facility according to claim I, wherein the criteria analysis system is further adapted to monitor each stage of the repair process and signal the repair facility when a group of repair specifications within a particular stage has not been completed.

8. A computer-implemented method of tracking and monitoring compliance with third party process requirements by a repair facility performing a vehicle repair process, comprising:

coupling a criteria compliance system to a repair facility computer system having a processor, a memory device, and a display;

presenting a predetermined set of repair specifications generated by the criteria compliance system on the display, wherein the set of repair specifications corresponds to the vehicle repair process;

saving repair information to the memory device, wherein the repair information is entered into the computer system by the repair facility in response to the predetermined set of repair specifications; and

processing the repair information with a criteria analysis system linked to the criteria compliance system, wherein the criteria analysis system is adapted to identify any noncompliances between the repair information and the predetermined set of repair specifications.

9. A computer implemented method according to claim 8, wherein presenting the predetermined set of repair specifications comprises displaying a data entry form having data entry fields corresponding to at least one step in the vehicle repair process.

10. A computer implemented method according to claim 9, wherein the repair information is received via an input device coupled to a computer system.

11. A computer implemented method according to claim 8, further comprising coupling a database to the criteria analysis system, wherein the database is adapted to store the repair information corresponding to repairs performed on different vehicles.

12. A computer implemented method according to claim 11, further comprising processing the repair information stored in the database to identify at least one of noncompliance rates, process variability, fraud, cost variance, and effectiveness of improvement efforts.

13. A computer implemented method according to claim 8, further comprising:

monitoring each stage of the repair process; and

signaling the repair facility when a group of repair specifications within a particular stage has not been completed.

14. A method of tracking and monitoring compliance with third party process requirements by a repair facility performing a vehicle repair process, comprising:

presenting a predetermined set of repair specifications to the repair facility, wherein the predetermined set of repair specifications corresponds to the vehicle repair process;

collecting repair information generated by the repair facility in response to the presented predetermined set of repair specifications; and

processing the repair information to identify any noncompliance between the repair information and the predetermined set of repair specifications.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein presenting the predetermined set of repair specifications comprises displaying a data entry form having data entry fields corresponding to at least one step in the vehicle repair process.

16. A method according to claim 14, further comprising storing the repair information corresponding to repairs performed on different vehicles to a database.

17. A method according to claim 17, further comprising processing the repair information stored in the database to identify at least one of noncompliance rates, process variability, fraud, cost variance, and effectiveness of improvement efforts.