Western Western Edition E Edi d i ti o n California Idaho Montana Nevada
Oregon Washington Wyoming
35
YEARS
ww ww.autobodynews.com www.autobodynews.com
Industry Veteran Introduces MARP Methodology to Assess Structural Automotive Realignment by Stacey Phillips
MARP’s patented process provides a consistent even base in A: the collision repair industry, which will
Industry veteran Greg Marion says he has found the missing link to solve an allow collision centers and insurance age-old industry challenge: how to efcompanies to access the same precise ficiently evaluate and realign damaged structural analysis for vehicles. It can vehicle body and frame structures. then provide specific procedures for After receiving an issued patent on the proper realignment. The process is demethodology in 2012, Marion is now rived from the application and measurintroducing a new automotive colliing order of OEM-approved bench jig sion repair application he calls Multiand fixtures. [Conceptually] it is comple Automotive Realignment Process parable to [an internet] search engine. (MARP). The unique process provides web“The automotive collibased automotive structural sion repair industry has not evaluations with complete evolved beyond ‘pull to fit’ realignment order/structural structural realignment praccomponent replacement or tices. These ad hoc methods repair assessments, virtual often cause as much damage reality training, and validated as they remove,” said Marion. certification levels for indus“Many vehicles are not effitry professionals. Greg Marion ciently evaluated; they are reWhy did you see a need to imaligned inefficiently or incorrectly, often plement this in the industry? at considerable extra expense to the owners and to the insurance industry.” Since the invention of the Model He said with the introduction of A, vehicle frame straightening the MARP application, it will help eshas been a mastered ‘lost art’ performed tablish industry-wide standards that by a small majority of body repairmen could result in billions of dollars in also referred to as frame men. They acsavings to the collision repair and inquired a unique understanding with surance industries. how the vehicle structure reacted durAutobody News recently spoke to ing a collision. They also developed a Marion about this innovative development and how he thinks it will rare feel for the transfer of metal within the crumple zone areas of a misaligned change the collision repair industry. vehicle frame. These craftsmen were Can you tell us about MARP? able to envision and recreate the colli-
Q: A:
Q:
VOL. 35 ISSUE 5 MAY 2017
Collision Shop Owners Share the (Mostly) Pros and (Few) Cons of Getting OEM Certified
Are automaker shop certifications a of pretty much everyone else because of us getting certified, but it’s really potential substitute for collision repair only been to my benefit. An insurer can shops seeking less dependence on intake any [agreement] I have [with surer direct repair programs? them] away, but they can’t take my cerThat was among the questions addressed by a panel of shop owners at tification. The DRPs helped us get to the recent NORTHEAST Automotive the point where we had the money to spend on OEM certification. Services Show held in SecauBut you get to the point where cus, N.J. James Carvino of you say, ‘Listen, I don’t need RoJo Collision in Brooklyn, you. So if you don’t want to NY, whose shop holds certifipay my rate or do this, you cations from about 10 aucan take the program and go tomakers, said he’s eliminated because now I’m certified. I most of the shop’s DRP reladon’t really need you. You tionships other than two with James Carvino can’t cripple my business.’” insurance companies “that are very understanding.” Tom Elder of Kompact Cars, “I basically have no issue [with Inc. in Clarksburg, NJ agreed, saying them], and I think they are happy to the 11 DRPs he previously had have someone who, even though my “helped us become better financed estimates may be 400 lines, they can and better equipped,” but that Mersee the car and know I’m doing the cedes-Benz and other OEM certificawork,” Carvino said. “I had to get rid See OEM Certification, Page 24
Service King Launches Patented Mobile App: Overdrive MD, a Data Tool For Technicians Service King Collision Repair Centers® has announced that the company is primed to digitize the full vehicle repair process with the national rollout of its custom-designed, patented mobile app Overdrive MD.
See MARP, Page 14
Service King, reportedly the first major collision repair organization to harness mobile technology as a data tool for technicians, successfully built and introduced a beta version in 20 locations across Dallas-Fort Worth, Oklahoma City, Phoenix and Atlanta. The company plans to scale the app
nationwide to all 318 Service King Collision Repair Centers by this summer. “This is a quantum leap forward for technicians across our organization,” said Derek Kramer, Service King chief information officer. “Overdrive MD will fundamentally transform the vehicle repair process by equipping technicians with real-time information and powerful data to consistently deliver best-inclass repairs for our customers nationwide.” According to the company, Overdrive MD empowers technicians to deliver more efficient repairs with real-time documentation, communication and updates through the convenience of their mobile device. The application’s patented techSee Overdrive MD, Page 11
Change Service Requested
P.O. BOX 1516, CARLSBAD, CA 92018
Presorted Standard US Postage PAID San Bernardino, CA Permit #2244