Todd Nelson, Autodata Publications Expert Technician

Ask the Expert: How do repair information providers come up with their labor times?

Feb. 6, 2013
Manufacturer-provided labor times are based on ideal conditions that are not always reflective of the typical repair scenario in an auto repair shop.

Q: How do repair information providers come up with their labor times?

A: Most manufacturers provide repair time estimates strictly for warranty purposes. The manufacturer will conduct several timed tests for a particular repair, and use the average as the labor time. A brand new vehicle is used for the time study, the technician is trained and experienced, all required tools are at the-ready, and the car is on the hoist, if needed.

In a nutshell, manufacturer-provided labor times are based on ideal conditions that are not reflective of the typical repair scenario in an auto repair shop. To fix this, aftermarket repair information providers may adjust the manufacturers’ times to better reflect reality.

At Autodata Publications, for example, manufacturers’ labor times may be increased depending upon the job’s level of complexity. The more complex the job, the more time is added. All labor times are increased a small amount simply to account for the up-front administrative work such as writing up the repair order, bringing the car into the bay and getting it up on the hoist. Simple repairs that normally require few special tools or experience receive no additional labor time adjustment.

Information provided by Autodata Publications, Inc. 

Sponsored Recommendations

Experts from 3M, John Ascheman and Todd Mathes, emphasize the importance of using digital inventory and billing tools like 3M™ RepairStack™ to document materials usage in detail...
In this June 10 webinar from the AMCS Group, discover how mobile access to maintenance data empowers fleets to make faster decisions, optimize scheduling, and generate real cost...
Are you aware of the hidden costs lurking behind ignored maintenance? This eBook reveals how neglecting upkeep can inate repair bills, induce downtime, and harm reliability. ...
Are your KPIs driving real fleet improvement? Learn how to set smarter, data-driven benchmarks, track success like top-performing fleets, and apply proven strategies to optimize...