Integrating calibrations into the repair process is beneficial on multiple fronts.

As the need to perform ADAS calibrations on vehicles requiring collision repairs increases, how to effectively do this becomes of greater concern for collision centres. Should they outsource the work? Should they perform it entirely in-house? Should a separate operations centre be created specifically for ADAS repairs?

Right procedures, right information

Fundamentally, a key question shops need to ask, is how those ADAS calibrations will be performed. At Simplicity Car Care, Vice President Domenic Prochilo, notes that collision centres need to leverage OEM procedures for each specific vehicle to ensure proper system functionality. Additionally, he says that having the right pre and post scan information is also key. “In any situation, always ensure that there is a pre/post scan on file,” he says. Prochilo explains that this can be used to sell to the work provider or client the need for dynamic/static calibrations to ensure that the vehicle is returned back to pre-loss condition.

Whether ADAS calibrations are performed in house or outsourced, Prochilo also notes that scanning and calibration procedures need to be standardized within the shop’s workflow, and this applies whether the tools and technology required are owned by the collision centre or utilized by a third party. “Having a standardized workflow will ensure that these important functions are not missed, and will reduce wait times, both at the beginning and the end of the repair process,” says Prochilo.

Assigning the work

If the collision centre is handling ADAS calibrations in house, there’s also the question of who should be assigned to do this work. Katie Mahon, ADAS Technician and Office Manager at CARSTAR Kenora, in Kenora, Ontario, recommends having an on-staff technician dedicated to ADAS work. She also says it’s key to have the required space to perform these calibrations correctly, since some will require up to 15 feet of distance to ensure the sensors and system can be properly configured and returned to pre-collision operation.

Like Prochilo, she stresses the importance of having ADAS integrated within the collision repair centre and network’s framework, particularly if that includes glass services as well as collision. Additionally, she says, if the collision centre is affiliated with a glass centre within a MSO network, it can also provide another revenue stream for the business, via customer pay work.

When it comes to revenue, those collision centres that have been able to really embrace ADAS work have found it very profitable. The challenge is that often, the upfront costs required are significant. Yet it can be done, and as Mahon, notes with the right equipment, staff and training, effective ADAS calibrations can make a huge difference. “It’s a one-time large purchase, however we make our money back on it daily, and it’s a fairly light weight job that anyone can do, provided they have the right experience,” she says.

Improved efficiency

In-house ADAS calibrations can also improve shop efficiency since they can be good “filler” work, particularly at times when there is less volume of actual body repairs. “By doing ADAS calibrations in house,” she says, “you control cycle time and don’t have to worry about a sublet that’s outside your business that you don’t have direct control over.”

When it comes to mechanical repairs, sometimes these can be performed in house or within the business (if it includes a mechanical service centre as well as a collision facility, though even if the mechanical work has to be sublet, there are ways to ensure the collision shop maintains control of the process.

Mahon says that in the case of CARSTAR Kenora, when a vehicle comes in for collision repairs and requires mechanical work, these tasks are sublet first. “Once the mechanical repairs have been done and we have the vehicle back, then we perform the ADAS calibrations in house.”

At Simplicity Car Care, Paul Prochilo notes that investing in ADAS calibrations effectively, requires having a strong foundation of best practices within the collision centre and network. This is critical to ensure consistency, accuracy and efficiency.

Safe, profitable and on-time

Additionally, as vehicle technology and with it, ADAS calibrations continue to evolve, it’s important to understand that certain fundamentals will remain the same. Prochilo says that if this practice is followed, the result will be consistently safe, profitable and on-time repairs.

Prochilo suggests the following in helping achieve these goals. Firstly, proper documentation and quality control, secondly, precision in environmental setup.

Regarding documentation and quality control, he notes that proper documentation regarding ADAS calibrations performed, helps protect the collision repair [and the shop] from potential liability while at the same time, enables a high-quality outcome following the repair.

When it comes to precision for the environmental setup, Prochilo says that because ADAS sensors (which including cameras, radar and lidar) need precise alignment in order to work properly, it’s imperative that when these calibrations are performed, they are conducted to precise requirements. “Even small deviations can lead to incorrect system performance,” he says.

Communication is key

It can’t be emphasized enough that clear communication is key for any process within the collision repair environment, and this applies particularly to precise work like ADAS calibrations. “To ensure that all ADAS calibrations are performed correctly during the collision repair process,” says Domenic Prochilo, “regardless of whether a collision centre and a mechanical service shop are part of the same business or not, both parties (repairer and mechanic) need to establish clear processes for communication, collaboration and documentation.” This includes establishing workflow and processes to improve communication among all parties involved (such as joint calendars), as well as integrating ADAS requirements into the repair plan. “By using OEM software, procedure pages and other sources of 3^rd party documentation,” he says, “you can clearly outline what mechanical/electrical services and calibrations will be needed at the end of the repair.” Shops can then use this information to create milestones throughout the repair process, ensuring the right tools, equipment and technicians are always available at the right time.