This is how we set the stage to Blueprint for success. See my photo of our Blueprinting Work Standards. We do this in my shop with a Disassembly tech and a Blueprint Estimator.
They work together as a team, and the Blueprint MUST be done with BOTH team members present.
After the pre-wash and check-in per our Work Standards are completed, the estimator starts by confirming all pre-blueprint photos (all four corners & etc.), VIN, mileage, Repair Plan dates, Point of Impact etc. are all entered into CCC. While this is being completed, the Tech is getting an R&I parts cart and a Red Damaged parts cart labelled and staged.
Then the tech starts the Meticulous Disassembly. At the same time, the estimator is researching OEM procedures. The tech will take a part off and put it on the parts table right beside the Estimator. Estimator photos each part, keys in the part in the estimate whether its R&I, Replace or Repair. Then the estimator places that part on the appropriate cart whether R&I cart or Red Cart for replace. Every part is entered into the estimate this way. If more parts are needing safety inspections, this is also done during the Blueprinting process.
This is how you can build a culture where the work is fun, and people enjoy working with each other!
In some shops, an admin employee just hands a body tech a set of keys for a black Camry parked outback and a parking lot estimate. They say, ‘Pull it in, tear it down and see what else you find’. If that’s your shop, you will unlikely EVER achieve a near 20% net profit.
In that type of a shop, the tech takes the car partially apart, leaves a pile of damaged parts on the floor and then tells the estimator, “I left a list of stuff on the car to add and the bad parts next to it”. What a nightmare that is left for the estimator. This Camry will be plagued with missed operations being charged for, missed parts, or damaged parts being found in the build process. There will be delay after delay and everyone will be frustrated in the end, including the VO.
In my shop, when the tech and the estimator work as a team, very rarely is any labour operation missed or do more parts need ordered downstream. When my team was taught this from our Sensei, we thought, ‘are kidding me?’ Now after a long time of doing this, it is the only correct way to do it!! When the Blueprint is completed, all the parts are ordered, a complete supplement with supporting photos and documentation are all sent in. The cycle is completed. We’re not going back and creating a supplement 2 for more labour operations like, blends, colour tint, stone guard, shields R&I for measuring. We’re not ordering more parts when we finally take the suspension apart 4 days after the estimate was locked. How about finally removing the cooling and ordering A/C seals, broken fan assemblies found damaged when radiator was finally removed and on and on.
If you are telling yourself, ‘There is no way I could ever get my team to do this’. Then you are the biggest problem in your shop, and you lack leadership abilities! If this is your shops case, you have an insane asylum being run by the inmates!!
As a leader, you must have a relentless pursuit to help improve the way your team does their work every day.
You may just need to get off your butt from your office chair and get out on the shop floor to learn the struggles that each one of your employees experience every day! This is how we have employee retention and create a vacuum for new talent knocking on our doors.
I am sure many do their system differently, but the key point I am trying to make is, you must have a system. If everyone does the work differently every day, without written Work Standards, you will never know what to improve when you have problems. You are basically just sending junk work downstream. Now shoot holes in my process, but remember that I have a written process, that my team adheres too!! Back again soon with estimating.
