Computer-implemented vehicle repair analysis system

• US 7,020,620 B1
• Filed: 06/23/2000
• Issued: 03/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: BASF Corporation (BASF SE)
• Original Assignee: BASF Corporation (BASF SE)
• Inventors: Kelly, Charles, Pierre, Jean-Claude, Torres, Antonio C., Lavington, Chris W., Bargnes, Guy O., Howe, John K.
• Primary Examiner(s): MEINECKE DIAZ, SUSANNA M
• Application Number:
  US09/602,922
• Time in Patent Office: 2,104 Days
• Field of Search: 705 7- 9, 705/11, 705/4, 705/10
• US Class Current: 705/7.24
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063116 Schedule adjustment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06312 Adjustment or analysis of established resource schedule, e.g. resource or task levelling, or dynamic rescheduling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06314 Calendaring for a resource
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06315 Needs-based resource requirements planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0639 Performance analysis of employees; Performance analysis of enterprise or organisation operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0203 Market surveys; Market polls

Abstract

A computer-implemented method of tracking a vehicle during a vehicle-related multi-step process. A vehicle identifier is received for uniquely identifying a vehicle. A daily time target for each day of the repair process is preselected. A delay is then identified during a repair step if the time allocated to the vehicle is less than the preselected daily time target. A length of time for the delay is stored. Also, a reason for a delay is determined for why the vehicle was delayed during at least one of the multi-step processes. A proficiency of the repair process can then be reported such that a repair facility can assess areas of improvement.

Claims

1. A method of tracking a plurality of vehicles using a computerized analysis module with each of the vehicles having a different vehicle identifier, said method comprising the steps of:

storing the vehicle identifiers in the analysis module such that the module can track each of the vehicles;

determining the repair steps necessary to complete a repair of each of the identified vehicles to define a repair process for each of the identified vehicles;

allocating a target time period for each day of each of the repair processes to define a preselected daily time target in which the repair processes will be performed on the identified vehicles;

identifying a delay during a particular repair step of the repair processes if the time spent performing the repair processes on the identified vehicles on a particular day is less than the preselected daily time target for that particular day;

determining a reason for each of the delays;

associating a code with each of the reasons for the delays to identify particular problems occurring during the repair processes;

storing the codes of the delays in the analysis module; and

reporting a proficiency of the repair processes using the analysis module by categorizing each of the codes to identify chronic problems occurring during the repair processes such that a repair facility can assess areas of improvement.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the reason for the delays is selected from the group consisting of parts delayed reason, parts incorrect delay reason, parts damaged delay reason, parts fit delay reason, insurance approval delay reason, insurance supplemental approval delay reason, customer delay reason, frame department delay reason, metal department delay reason, paint department delay reason, employee out delay reason, sublet delay reason, and combinations thereof.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of the repair processes include at least one step selected from the group consisting of a disassembly step, frame step, metal step, preparation step, paint step, reassembly step, testing step, detailing step, and combinations thereof.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of the vehicle identifiers include vehicle brand data, vehicle year data, and customer identifying data.

5. The method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

receiving the vehicle identifiers over a network;

receiving the reason for each of the delays over the network;

retrieving the particular codes for each of the delays from a database; and

sending over the network the particular codes in order to use the particular codes to report the proficiency of the repair processes of a repair facility located remotely from the analysis module.

6. The method as set forth in claim 5 wherein the network is a global communications network connected by common protocols.

7. The method as set forth in claim 6 wherein the network is Internet.

8. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of allocating a target time period for each day of each of the repair processes is further defined as allocating the same target time period for each day of each of the repair processes such that each of the preselected daily time targets are the same.

9. The method as set forth in claim 8 wherein the step of allocating a target time period for each day of each of the repair processes is further defined as allocating a target time period of five hours for each day of each of the repair processes to define a five hour preselected daily time target.

10. The method as set forth in claim 9 wherein the step of identifying a delay is further defined as identifying a delay during a particular repair step of the repair processes if the hours spent performing the repair processes on the identified vehicles on a particular day is less than five hours.

11. The method as set forth in claim 1 further including the step of choosing a code from a plurality of delay codes before the step of associating a code with each of the reasons for the delays.

12. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of identifying a delay is further defined as identifying multiple delays during a particular step of one of the repair processes.

13. The method as set forth in claim 1 further including the step of identifying a second delay during a subsequent repair step of the same repair process.

14. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of reporting the proficiency of the repair processes is further defined as simultaneously reporting the particular repair steps in which the delays were identified.

15. The method as set forth in claim 1 further including the step of examining the identified vehicles to locate areas on the identified vehicles in need of repair.

16. The method as set forth in claim 15 further including the step of performing the repair steps to complete the repair of the identified vehicles.

17. The method as set forth in claim 1 further including the step of determining a length of time for each of the delays and storing the length of the time of the delays in the analysis module.

18. The method as set forth in claim 17 wherein the step of reporting the proficiency of the repair processes is further defined as combining the length of time of each of the delays with the code for the delays.

19. The method as set forth in claim 17 wherein the step of storing the length of time of each of the delays in the analysis module is further defined as storing an identifier indicative of the length of time of each of the delays in the analysis module.

20. The method as set forth in claim 19 wherein the identifier for the length of time of each of the delays is further defined as one day and the step of storing the length of time of each of the delays in the analysis module is further defined as storing a one day delay in the analysis module after each of the delays are identified.