How do I check a collision shop’s cycle time from drop-off to pickup?

Ask the owner how the shop tracks cycle time. Some shops follow it closely, while others have no figure at all. If they do track it, ask for the report and how it is calculated, and check it against the actual dates in a handful of files you choose yourself.

Then break each job into stages. Typical waits come from insurer approvals, parts that arrive late, the paint booth queue, a technician who has too many jobs, or customers who delay pickup. Mark where each sample job paused and for how long. A pattern will emerge quickly: one shop waits on parts, another on approvals, another on one painter.

Next, compare job types. Small repairs should move faster than large structural ones, so look at each group separately. A slow average may hide a few stuck cars, so look at the longest jobs and ask why they dragged. Finally, ask how the shop communicates with customers and insurers while cars wait. Long waits with poor updates generate complaints and lost referrals. Ask your accountant how slow turns affect rental costs the shop may absorb, and plan which delays you could fix after you take over. Note which ones need a new supplier or a new hire.

Key takeaways

• Check the owner’s cycle-time report against dates in files you pick yourself.
• Split each job into stages to find where cars sit longest.
• Compare small and large repairs separately and look at the stuck jobs.