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THATCHAM: Providing Science at Shop Floor Level
Computerised Estimating Systems have in the past decade moved from initially
being a "novelty", that selected Panelbeaters experimented with, to becoming
an integral part of the Repair Industry's management and control functions.
The emphasis has also shifted from doing the basics such as quotes and invoices
and bookkeeping, to the next level, which is twofold: 1) to having facilities
available that allow complete control in every area of the business, and 2)
being able to integrate and communicate with the outside world. Moving with the
times, panelbeating software must be internet linked - allowing the user to
communicate with customers (sending them quotations via internet), liaising with
the assessor regarding authorisations, electronic Invoicing, and probably one of
the most heplful tools: accessing relevant vehicle information that can speed up
the estimating process and reduce the margin of error.
The introduction of Thatcham in Southern Africa, has brought with it a host of
benefits for the Repair Industry. At long last, there is a database available
that offers an extensive scientific basis for vehicle damage and repair.
30 Years of vehicle research for vehicle manufacturers such as Toyota, Volkswagen,
BMW, Nissan and many others have placed Thatcham at the forefront regarding the
requirements for vehicle assessment and repair.
Thatcham, a non-profit organisation based in the UK, are internationally
renowned for their research in the following areas:
Safety Requirements on New Vehicles (testing of seat belts, head rests, whiplash)
Damageablitiy and Repairability of new models off the production line
Security issues (alarm systems, immobilisers)
In this process they do a large amount of crash testing on vehicles
to establish the strengths and weaknesses of the above, and then go a step further.
Their state of the art inhouse panel shop will completely strip, repair and reassemble the damaged vehicle, in order to set up parameters for reliable, and realistic labour times.
All stages of the panelbeating process are done including the paintwork, MET and
a complete assessment of the removing and refitting of bodyparts and related
units, including e.g. airbags are available afterwards in either the TTS
(Thatcham Time System) and/or method manuals. Training of Assessors,
panelbeaters, and spraypainters are done at their training centre for the
industry on the latest techniques and trends as well as bodyshop equipment,
which incidently are also tested at their centre.
The time study information that has been compiled in the TTS database is one of
the most up-to-date and comprehensive that is available in the market, and will allow
the panelbeater to, by doing a very simple selection, get a full analysis of the
repair to be undertaken, including Mechanical, Electrical & Trim Work and Paint Times.
These are actual times, achieved by a real person in a real workshop environment.
Thatcham in South Africa is licenced through CompMark and is interlinked with
the Vantage CS Damage Assessment and Repair Program and fully adapted to include
vehicles on the road in South Africa.
For the Repairer who wants to get authorisation speedily and provide an improved
service to his customer, the use of a computerised estimating system that can provide all of the above, will undoubtedly professionalise and streamline his operation, improving efficiency and lowering costs. The use of Thatcham in the estimate, greatly improves the accuracy of the labour times on the quotation.
Go to the Thatcham Webpage
THATCHAM
Read more about Thatcham
THATCHAM TIME SYSTEM (TTS)
The internationally recognized labour time system.
The TTS Database comprises a detailed and comprehensive breakdown of vehicle
combinations, panels and parts together with their associated repair times,
which once issued by Thatcham, may be used as a valid labour time
for panel replacement in computer estimating systems.
The Thatcham Time System (TTS) has been developed by The Motor Insurance Repair
Research Center (Thatcham) in the UK over a period of 25 years.
THE TTS IS EASY TO USE AND PRODUCES AN ACCURATE, REALISTIC LABOUR TIME.
THE TTS IS EXTREMELY COST EFFECTIVE
AND
can be used in quotations on any of the vehicles
on the road in SA (except for trucks and motor cycles).
~ BASIS FOR THE TTS DATABASE:
The TTS Database is created from statistical models, which in turn are derived
from many hundreds of real time repairs at Thatcham. TTS Data contains the
detail on parts and/or operations which must be undertaken to affect each single
panel repair. This level of detail enables the user to process the TTS data in a
comprehensive fashion, providing the flexibility to enable the creation of an
unlimited number of unique repair combination times.
~HOW TO USE THE TTS:
As a Library:
As a resource to check valid labour times. You can use the database as a pointer,
to check that the labour times combination that you want to apply is accurate.
The TTS database gives a multitude of information on labour times and you
can check that you have not neglected any important areas required in the labour analysis.
Do a complete Thatcham Quotation:
The TTS labour database can be used to produce a complete Quotation,
which will give you:
~ The labour times for the removal and refitting of the panels selected.
~ The paint times for the paint labour on the panels.(panels complete)
~ The amount to be charged for the paint materials, based on the panel sizes.
~ The labour times for cutting and welding of the panels.
~ MET: mechanical, electrical and trim times included.
~ Labour Times for partial repair based on m2
area to be repaired.
The TTS database does not produce Labour Times for actual panel beating on a
removed panel. This is added as “opinion time.”
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