Your Source for Up-To-Date News and Research on the Collision Repair Industry 

 

click here to subscribe to the FREE INSIGHT Editor's Desk News Alert Email

SUBSCRIBERS-ONLY
Today's News
INSIGHT This Month
INSIGHT Archives
Survey Center
Letter to the Editor

Business Tools
Subscription Information
CSI Reporting
Financial Analysis
IRS Audit Guide

Management/
Technical Info
Market Watch Rates
INSIGHT Inside this month's issue...

Feedback
Letter to the Editor

BASF Enhances VisionPLUS OnLine Facility-Layout Services

VisionPLUS OnLine is BASF's proprietary Internet-based business analysis toolset, which enables an auto body shop to measure and improve its operations and plan long-term business strategies.

Guy Bargnes, Marketing Director, BASF Automotive Refinish, described the most recent improvements: "We have added CAD [computer-aided design] layouts of 15 Model Facility Plans, ranging from 5,500 sq. ft. to over 32,000 sq. ft. in area. To make the planning process more efficient, we also added on-line checklists that help a user identify key requirements before proceeding to the actual shop layout."

The Model Facility Plans can serve as starting points for planning any of the following:

• A revised layout, such as when new equipment is added.
• An addition to an existing building.
• The conversion of an existing building for use as a body shop.
• The design of a new building, from the ground up.

Explaining the value of the on-line planning checklists, Bob Roewer, eBusiness Manager, BASF Automotive Refinish, said, "During our one-year test of Facility Layout Services, we found that many shop owners would review their CAD layouts, then think of additional features or needs. Going back to rework the layouts resulted in a great deal of extra CAD hours and the waste of calendar days.

"This experience helped us develop Owner Needs and Preferences checklists, which include everything from parts staging options to amenities for insurance representatives. The planning checklists are different for each type of facility, and all of them are included on the VisionPLUS OnLine website," concluded Roewer.

Using the website's planning checklists, a customer can initiate a facility design project on line by entering key details such as: the type of project; facility needs and preferences; and customer contact information. With this basic information, the BASF facility layout specialist can open a priority project, even before a layout has been initiated.

"The customer has access to a full-time facility layout expert that has produced hundreds of body shop layouts. Since many customers find that their basic building plan is already available in electronic format, their customized body shop layout project can be initiated promptly. And because the facility layout specialist has received a comprehensive list of the owner's needs and preferences via the website, BASF can offer the best speed and value in the industry," said Roewer.

The cost of the layout service ranges from $400 to $900, depending on the size of the facility, and includes telephone consultation with the customer's architect or builder.

©2002 Collision Repair Industry INSIGHT
All Rights Reserved

FEATURED
LINKS:

INSIGHT Supports the NABC!
Do You?