Page 33 - Automobile Mechanical and Electrical Systems Automotive Technology Vehicle Maintenance and Repair (Vehicle Maintenance Repr Nv2) by Tom Denton

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18 Automobile mechanical and electrical systems

There are many other features relating to accounts and reports that are beyond
the scope of this book but are very useful for managing a business.
The core of this and other systems is the data held about customers, and
their vehicles and the work carried out on them. New records can be created
from a number of points within the system. The following would be typical of a
process:
1 A new customer has a problem with their car and requests an estimate.
2 Customer and vehicle details are added, with the help of postcode and vehicle
registration look-up features.
3 The estimate is now created, with the use of repair times look-up if needed,
and can be printed.
4 The customer agrees the price and the vehicle is booked in using the booking
screen.
5 On the agreed date a jobsheet is printed (or accessed on screen) and the
designated technician carries out the work adding parts and comments as
needed. A service schedule may also be accessed at this point.
6 An invoice is created and printed (or emailed).
7 In an ideal world, the customer pays as they collect the vehicle.
The above process is just one way the system can be used; for example, the
starting point could be the creation of the jobsheet or an invoice. However, in
all cases, customer and vehicle details must be added or updated. Existing
customer and vehicle records can be easily looked up, making the process of
creating an invoice, or whatever, much faster.
The invoice details screen can have lines of detail grouped into relevant sections,
such as Parts, Labour, MOT, as required. Sections can be created and stored
as menu jobs to automatically fi ll in an invoice with often used descriptions,
quantities and prices. Invoices can automatically update stock quantities for
stock Items. Individual items on the invoice can also be linked to customers in

order to aid part warranty checks in the future. Purchased parts can be added
directly to a sales invoice which maintains a link to the purchase invoice for
future reference.
GDS Workshop Manager can optionally include a repair times and service
schedules database which can be incorporated directly into the system.
Vehicle times and service schedules can be looked up as required, or accessed
from within the jobsheet, estimate and invoice screens to allow times to be
automatically entered directly onto the document being worked on. Service
schedules for cars and light commercial vehicles can be printed.

In summary, a computer-based workshop management system allows the easy
creation of all the documentation needed for effi cient workshop operation and
management. It is now an essential part of a modern garage’s tool kit. More
information is available from: www.GarageDataSystems.com

Safety fi rst
1.3 Working safely
Health and safety law is designed to
protect you.
1.3.1 Introduction
Health and safety law is designed to protect you.