something on the front end, then we can keep our process flowing and not lose valuable days on the back end.” He said it has also helped DCR Systems by having someone verifying all stores are performing OEM procedures. Another highlight was learning about the DCR Claims Portal, developed by Warren and Harley Wegman, repair plan specialist. Dave Martin, operations director, said the DCR Claims Portal is a revolutionary interface that allows for a complete claims settlement package and has myriad benefits for all facets of the repair industry. This includes a shop looking to make sure they have assembled all the documentation needed for a repair and adhering to OE certification programs, an insurance company looking to settle a claim for a policyholder or a subrogation claim, and a customer searching for a better understanding of what will be done to their vehicle. “The application dynamically aligns the work to be done with the corresponding evidence in a single
view,” said Martin. “It is the most simple and intuitive way to present the information for a repair and eliminates the countless hours spent trying to decipher buckets of documents and photos to specific repair operations by aligning all of that for the user.” He said the assembly of the portal is a great self-check on the completeness of the repair plan. “It helps ensure that your team has pulled together all of the necessary information to restore the vehicle per OE specifications once up-front rather than multiple times when requested by insurers throughout the repair process,” he said. “This results in an impressive time savings overall.” The development of the portal was born from the idea of continuous improvement. DCR Systems had a virtual portal prior to this version, but Martin said it did not meet the company’s needs to streamline its process. “The portal is a prime example of the persistence and ingenuity of our team to come up with better ways of doing things, even when
something doesn’t appear ‘broken’ in the first place,” he said. “It demonstrates what team members can accomplish when leadership encourages them to run with some of their ideas.” Most of DCR Systems’ processes have been created by team members. Arynne said working in a team-based environment empowers everyone to make continuous improvements. “We have a team of people who are game changers in our industry and we have a passion in what we do in collision repair,” said Wynn. “It’s a passion that’s contagious, especially when you have leaders such as Michael Giarrizzo and Cheryl Boswell.” Wynn said it’s not just about fixing a vehicle to collect a check at the end of the job. “We want to put safe vehicles back in customers’ hands, vehicles that we would trust to put our family and friends in and know that we have repaired them the way the manufacturer of that vehicle would have wanted it done,” she said.
Tesla’s Elon Musk Pledges to Expedite Service Center Openings by Maria Merano, Teslarati
Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently pledged to expedite the company’s ramp of its physical service centers, even as the company expands its mobile service fleet. A Tesla Model 3 Performance owner asked Musk when Tesla would open more service centers in the northeastern U.S. The owner, @JeffTutorials, informed Musk he received a wait time of three or more weeks for just an appointment with a service center. Jeff wanted to replace the front upper control arm of his Model 3 and believed it could not be done via Tesla Mobile Service. “Thank[s] for bringing this up. Tesla will expedite service center openings. Have you tried our mobile service that comes to you,” replied Musk. As Tesla’s fleet grows, it may be time to focus more on delivering quality service and more service options. Currently, Tesla has service centers in 39 countries worldwide. In the U.S., Tesla has service centers in at least 34
different states. Some states only have one Tesla Service Center. There are no listed Tesla Service Centers in three of the nine states in the northeastern U.S.: Maine, New Hampshire or Vermont.
Among the northeastern states that do have a Tesls Service Center, only one each is listed in Rhode Island and Connecticut. New Jersey has four Tesla Service Centers, while Pennsylvania has three. New York has the most Tesla Service Centers in the northeast, with seven. That’s a total of 20 Tesla Service Centers in the northeastern U.S. For perspective, California alone has 39 Tesla Service Centers. During the Q4 2020 earnings call, Automotive Director Jerome
48 OCTOBER 2021 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com
Guillen said Tesla hoped the Mobile Service team would address 50% of customer service needs in 2021. According to Guillen, Tesla planned to open 46 new service centers in North America in the first half of 2021. In retrospect, 46 service centers may not be enough to accommodate Tesla’s growing customer base in the U.S., and even more would be needed to address service needs around the globe. Tesla is working with third-party repair shops to deliver service to customers. However, it would take experience and knowledgeable technicians to service a Tesla properly. Lately, Tesla seems to be considering other service options it can provide to owners as its customer base grows. Recently, Tesla quietly debuted service subscriptions, which included a diagnostic software package that could help owners make minor repairs on their own at home.
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3M™ Performance sion customer specialist, 3M Automotive Aftermarket Division. “They also love how easy the cleanup is.” The spray gun weighs 8.4 oz with gravity nozzles and 13.3 oz with pressure nozzles to enhance comfort without sacrificing performance or durability, according to Russell. “Innovative quick-change replaceable nozzle technology means cleanup can be as simple as a twist and a wipe,” he said. “Every time a painter puts on a fresh nozzle, it’s like getting a brand new spray gun.” With quick-change replaceable 3M™ Performance Gravity HVLP Atomizing Heads, cleanup involves twisting the locking collar, removing the atomizing head and wiping the needle clean. “The 3M™ Performance Spray Gun is so much different than the other guns I’ve used,” said Barrett. “It’s lighter, feels good in your hands and you just know that you are going to come out of the paint booth with a job well done.”
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800-368-2335 502-893-4704 502-894-6823 Fax M-F 7:30am - 6pm
dpelissero@mblouisville.com www.mblouisville.com
