OEM Repair Information Vital to Performing Proper Repairs Anthony NM

By Dan Espersen
7/16/2008

What may be an up-to-date repair procedure today can quickly become an outdated one tomorrow.

Without an easy-to-use single source for correct repair information from vehicle manufacturers, the task of repairing a damaged vehicle to a high and exacting standard will often fall short.

With the abundance of questionable information circulating within the collision repair industry, it’s surprising that damaged vehicles can be repaired to a consistent standard. Accurate information is the key to providing excellent service to customers.

Webster’s Dictionary defines a standard as: “A means of determining what a thing should be. Standard applies to any definite rule, principle or measure established by authority.”

Based on this definition, the following questions should be asked:

• How should things be?
• What are the rules or principles?
• What are the measures?
• Who is the authority?
• Where would I turn to answer these questions?

The bottom line is that vehicle manufacturers are the highest authority for correct repair information, procedures and practices. They design vehicles, develop them, test and deliver them.

Current information-gathering techniques are chaotic, time-consuming, costly and confusing. But this doesn’t have to be the case. Each time you’re faced with a technical problem, ask yourself what it would be like to have access to all of the manufacturers’ publ...