Mitchell International, Inc., makes some recent changes under a number of types of its Collision Estimating Guide P-pages. This represents the very first changes to the procedural explanations since 2022.
They occur under the Labor General Information and Additions to Labor Times headers and are topped by an essential REMINDER: “Labor related notes in the text portion override the process Explanation pages.”
Most areas stay the same, but there are several significant updates, starting with those under Labor General Information:
While Mitchell documentation already defined labor time for welded panels as included, new inclusions in the P-pages highlight additional steps that aren't factored in the present time.
“It doesn't include any necessary masking, set-up and clean-up of the application tool, test patterns or use of material to duplicate factory look, texture and color or to create noise and vibration absorbing properties for that panel.”
Mitchell also elaborated inside the section on Caulking For Standard Factory Application that, “In some instances, Mitchell may determine that an OEM replacement part isn't serviced consistently by a vehicle manufacturer. In those cases, we will footnote the specific panel using the labor footnote: #Does Not Include Application of Caulking and a headnote is going to be contained in that section with a labor allowance for that performance of the task if required.”
This recognition of variation — and the possibility of added labor — is really a new accessory for Mitchell's CEG and it has related to bolt-on parts like hoods, doors and trunks.
Danny Gredinberg, administrator from the Database Enhancement Gateway , a free industry resource to crowdsource inquiries from estimating system end-users and solicit answers from the three estimating services, told Repairer Driven News that this is a vital switch to the approach.
“Mitchell has always stated their labor time consideration included the application of caulking and sealants specifically for those bolt-on parts when they confirm that it's a necessary key to be achieved,” Gredinberg said.
In the past few years, some automakers, such as Nissan, announced that some of the parts may or may not come with the seam sealer, therefore if it does not come with it, it must be applied and that is billable.
“There's no way Mitchell can confirm at that point it does or doesn't include it,” Gredinberg said. “So they're addressing that. If the part doesn't come with seam sealers, here's the labor operation to allow for it.”
Similar for an adjustment produced by CCC and MOTOR in January 2022, Mitchell P-pages have been updated with references to technicians who're properly performing tasks in accordance with the vehicle manufacturer approach.
Much like the update in CCC, the brand new language came in the encouragement of associations such as the Society of Collision Repair Specialists and Alliance of Automotive Service Providers .
“Mitchell labor times represent labor tasks being performed inside a collision repair facility designed with the necessary equipment and tools, and done by experienced technicians trained to complete a proper and safe repair in accordance with vehicle manufacturer repair procedures and expectations.”
“The labor times shown within the Guide represent utilizing A/C servicing equipment in a collision repair environment that evacuates the machine by applying vacuum that must then take place through the system for any certain time period confirmed with electronic leak detection equipment post re-fill. Diagnosing a failed leak check is not included.”
While not really a new category, the word what within this section continues to be largely amended.
According to Gredinberg, previous versions addressed “leak check” inclusion, but didn't define the process or distinguishing characteristics of the different approaches that may be called for.
Mitchell updates to the CEG address that “the labor times shown within the Guide represent installing the brand in the correct location by performing some mixture of measuring, marking and aligning to ensure proper positioning. Here we are at the fabrication of the template for emblem installation per specific OEM procedure is not included.”
Gredinberg credited inquiries from DEG end-users as the genesis towards the conversations that led to this update.
“Essentially these were calling for clarification on which labor times are for emblems include and don't include,” Gredinberg said.
This has also been addressed through the DEG along with other estimating products, identifying that if a technician must take time to create a template to have an emblem or nameplate, the estimator will need to manually include that fact to some CCC sheet.
CCC confirmed this inside a DEG inquiry response, according to some advice the DEG tweeted on Feb. 10, 2022.
“After review of the concern, creating templates isn't contained in estimated work times,” CCC replied, according to the DEG. The DEG also asserted the fabric price of the template also would not be included.
The DEG at the time also observed that CCC's MOTOR Help guide to Estimating P-pages limit the molding, nameplate and emblem labor times to installing the various components.
“Fabricate templates, reinforcing inserts, sleeves or flanges,” also are among CCC's list of not-included operations.
The additional language within the Mitchell CEG reflects a very similar approach.
The changes listed under Additions to Labor Times:
“Research, retrieval, review or usage cost of OEM and/or other service procedural information.”
This was at response to DEG Inquiry 1388 from 2022, when Mitchell replied to the end-user, suggesting “this Procedure Page enhancement request is going to be taken under consideration for future updates. Labor associated with purchasing an OEM subscription is not factored into any published labor allowances.”
The update stands as evidence of the effectiveness in questioning inclusions and the ability to influence future enhancements.
In another critical accessory for the web pages, Mitchell clarifies, “Time to perform weld testing or matching. The performance of destructive weld testing.”
This gives definition to the process, such as the time for you to determine the correct procedure and matches.
Destructive weld testing is a not-included procedure in all three estimating systems, meaning repairers who don't take into account it might be passing up on significant shop and technician revenue, based on an exhibition produced by an appearance shop manager in 2022.
SCRS on Thursday provided body shop management and collision technicians having a video and worksheet demonstrating squeeze-type resistance spot welding testing.
The current form of the Mitchell CEG can be found online, at CEG: Labor General Information or with the DEG Estimate Toolbox Mitchell | DEGWEB.ORG
