Auto Service Research Articles

A comprehensive framework of Self-service technology in marketing

Self-service technology is growing enormously across the globe, but there is no clear theory that unites us in order to understand this type of service. It suggests an extensive conceptual frame, which includes numerous well known attitude theories, to illustrate how attitudes have a central role to play in shaping self-service intentions and behaviour. The system enables better consumers’ decisions to be understood and forecast through the detailed analysis of customer expectations towards the use of a technology-based auto service. You use the Internet to explain how our system can be used to research customer conduct relating to a certain self-service technology. Takes perspectives on technology-based self-service from the current literature and also integrates several specific features of the internet that influence theory. Discusses the practical effects of our marketing model and offers recommendations for future studies on technology-based self-service in general and the Internet in particular. It also contributes to attitudinal literature with its integrative approach to theory.

RESEARCH OF TECHNOLOGICAL PROCESSES QUALITY INDICATOR CHANGING TAKING INTO ACCOUNT MUTUAL INFLUENCE OF FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS AUTOSERVICE SYSTEM

The analysis of perspective tendencies which connected with changing of autopark structure and designs of vehicles, the newest technologies of diagnosing their technical condition and service, methods of estimation services quality at the existing auto service enterprises, the last EU directives on application of the corresponding technical regulations has shown that innovative approaches to the organization of technical service systems for vehicles, assessing the quality of technological processes of maintaining and restoring the working condition of vehicles and ensuring the efficiency of car service systems should be applied. Therefore, the development of methodology for assessing the quality of technological processes of vehicle recovery at the systems of auto service enterprises, which would take into account a comprehensive approach to future trends in fleet structure and vehicle designs, the latest technologies for diagnosing their technical condition and maintenance, methods of assessing service quality is an urgent problem today.The article is devoted to the study of influence independent parameters describing the morphological structure of auto service system on the quality of technological processes fore restoring the efficiency of vehicles. The independent parameters are: capacity of auto service companies (number of posts), level of personnel availability, production organization form, automobile full weight, energy unite type, automobile age, income level of vehicle’s owners. The analysis is performed using visualization of a nonlinear model of the Sugeno type, developed in the Matlab package. The study is conducted for the following types of auto service companies:maintenance points, car repair shops, service stations, authorized service stations, specialized auto service enterprises, complex auto service enterprises. It is shown that for the studied enterprises of different types technical service the change of values morphological features of the main functional elements allows to increase the level of quality of technological processes of vehicle’s maintenance and restoration from 0,1% to 21,1%.

Desain Aplikasi Sistem Informasi Akuntansi untuk Usaha Bengkel Studi Kasus pada AA Cempaka Auto Service

This study aims to design an accounting information system application in AA Cempaka Auto Service workshop. Case study used as research approach. The application design process begins with studying the forms and reports that are required by the workshop business i.e purchasing form, sales form, general journal form, vehicle service record, debt payment and receivables. Required reports consist of transaction journal records, general ledger, balance sheet, income statement, balance sheet, inventory position, and vehicle service record. Application development stage using Microsoft Access 2007 software and VBA facilities for automation of journal posting and inventory cost calculation based on moving average method. The next step is to test the application to get sufficient confidence in transaction processing by comparing the results of the processing with the manual calculations performed. The implementation process is carried out by converting the initial data on the conversion date and inputting the transaction up to the company's operating date. After carrying out the implementation and conversion, the final stage is to carry out training to users and carry out the process of improvement and adjustments to the application based on feedback received from the user. The system design and implementation process have been deemed successful after the user has stated that the application has met all user needs and is operating properly.

Assessing the quality level of technological processes at car service enterprises

This paper addresses the problem of the level of maintenance and repair of motor vehicles depending on the parameters that take into consideration the internal state of a car service enterprise and the external factors that characterize the environment of its functioning, as well as the cars serviced by the enterprise. The course of the study involved a morphological analysis of the auto service system, based on which the functional elements of the system were determined, as well as the essential morphological attributes of these elements and the variants for their implementation. In order to identify the degree of influence exerted by these morphological attributes on the quality of technological processes performance, a survey of the typical Ukrainian car service enterprises has been carried out and a mathematical model of the system has been built in the form of a linear multiple regression equation. The preliminary verification of the input parameters of the system model for multicollinearity based on the Farrar-Glober algorithm has made it possible to separate the independent ones among them and to reduce the complexity of further calculations. The regression equation coefficients characterize the degree of importance of considering the appropriate parameters when designing an automated quality management system. To improve the adequacy of the model and to reduce the complexity of the simulation process, the source data array has been divided into the training and control samples using an algorithm based on computing the values for the sampling variance. In order to obtain the most adequate model, the nonlinear models of the examined system of the Mamdani and Sugeno type have been constructed. To this end, the MATLAB software suite was employed with its Fuzzy Logic Toolbox. The input and output parameters' membership functions were set in a trapezoidal form. The nonlinear models have been implemented for various defuzzification methods of the output parameter. The smallest root mean square error of the resultant characteristic was obtained when implementing the Sugeno-type model; it was 1.07 %. This indicates the expediency of integrating the specified model into a quality management system in order to determine the optimal operating modes. The study results could be applied to assess the quality of the services rendered by car service systems at the micro- and macro levels

New Way To Determine The Technical Condition Of Ball Joints

Among the multitude of vehicle suspension assemblies, the ball joint is one of the most important bearing assemblies, the operability of which directly depends on the operating conditions. Ball joints are used to connect the suspension and steering components and are kinematic interfaces that have three angular degrees of freedom when moving the working elements (levers). The reliability of the hinges has a significant impact on the safety of the car. In most cases, the ball joint is an indiscriminate node, which makes it difficult to determine the technical condition in a car service center. One of the methods of diagnosing are laboratory bench examinations of ball joints. To obtain reliable information about the wear of ball joints and the development of a technique for determining their technical condition in the conditions of an auto service company, a laboratory bench research area is needed. The completed research aimed at developing methods, tools and algorithms for determining the technical state of ball joints in the conditions of an auto service company. As a result of the research, the author’s team developed a vibration method for determining the technical state of ball joints and a mathematical model for changing the technical condition of the ball joint of the front suspension of the MacPherson type of a car, in bench tests.

APPROACHES TO FORMING THE COMPETITIVENESS OF CAR SERVICE ENTERPRISES

Introduction. The problem of competitiveness management occupies one of the leading positions in the economic policy of the state. Competitiveness management applies to all levels of the hierarchy: industry, region, products, services and the state as a whole. But the notion of “enterprise competitiveness” is of particular importance, since this entity is the mainstay of the economy. Describing the peculiarities of the development of competition in the market of car services, it should be noted that it largely involves the formation of each product appropriate policy. That is, in the competition various car services are trying to offer the most attractive range of services. Understanding the specifics of the auto service industry in the field of competition, namely the concentration of efforts simultaneously on all elements of communication with consumers of auto services, led to the need for theoretical research and analytical evaluation of the management of the competitiveness of auto service enterprises. Methods. Theoretical and methodological basis of the article are the fundamental provisions of modern economic theory, scientific works of scientists on the problems of market analysis. The following methods were used in the course of the research, in particular: analysis and synthesis – to study the object and object of the research; abstract and logical (theoretical generalizations and formulation of conclusions); constructive and experimental (formation of management decision by means of analytical support). Results. The methodology of forming tools for competitiveness of car service companies is proposed. An algorithm for passing the stages of determining and realizing the competitive advantage of a car service enterprise has been developed. The method of segmentation of the car services market based on the basic parameters is defined: geographical – external, internal market, regional markets; climate, relief, urbanization; demographic – population, density, height, gender and others; social, cultural, psychographic – social status, way of life, level of education, personal qualities, motives of behaviour; economic – income level, solvency; sectoral – specificity of different industries; customer benefits – different motivation in choosing a company and services; clientele status – regular and potential clients, former clients, newcomers. Based on the selected parameters, the segments were separated by grouping methods and multidimensional statistical analysis. The tools for ensuring the competitive strategy of the car service company and the information necessary for its formation have been identified. The directions of the general marketing strategy as realization of the general strategy of formation of competitiveness of car services are substantiated. Discussion. The obtained theoretical and applied recommendations can be used to improve the existing approaches to creating the competitiveness management of car service companies, to identify the extent of their implementation. Keywords: marketing, positioning, analysis, management, car service, car service enterprises, competitiveness, assessment of competitiveness.

A comparative study of forecasting methods for sporadic demand in an auto service station

A comparative study of forecasting methods for sporadic demand in an auto service station

A comparative study of forecasting methods for sporadic demand in an Auto Service Station

Spare parts are essential in the automobile sector and forecasting of spare parts has always been the vital prospects in an automobile service parts station. In this paper, a comparison and efforts have been made at the service station of a reputed organisation to reduce the errors in demand forecasting of intermittent demand items. The errors are compared for various methods using mean absolute scaled error (MASE) and Syntetos and Boylan approximation (SBA) method which exhibited the least error for intermittent demand and lumpy demand pattern. While single exponential smoothing method is used for smooth and erratic demand pattern. All calculations are done in MS Excel and solver tool to find optimal values of smoothing parameters.

Use of neural network technologies in quality management of car maintenance and repair processes

Based on the analysis of the functioning of the production process of the enterprise and studying the experience of planning, regulation, evaluation, analysis of the quality of services for maintenance and repair of cars, the effectiveness and efficiency of the production process of enterprises, it is shown that for effective management of the quality of processes, a detailed study of all components of production processes and factors that they are influenced by interdependencies between them. The possibility of managing the quality of services for the maintenance and repair of vehicles and the efficiency of their production using neural network modeling, which can be based on the mathematical Markov model of the production process based on two-layer neural networks, makes it possible to simulate the relationship between service properties, characteristics and factors of the production process. It is shown that the process of car maintenance and repair can be represented as a set of end-to-end neural network control and forecasting models, such as a model for studying and forecasting the development of the service market; model of quality management and efficiency of energy resources, spare parts and materials for maintenance and repair; management model of the general technology of maintenance and repair of units and the like; A scheme for determining generalized indicators of the quality of maintenance and repair of vehicles has been developed. For example, one of the auto service enterprises considered the possibility of using neural network technology to assess the quality of services and the efficiency of the production process.

Prevalence of hidden carbon monoxide poisoning in auto service workers; a prospective cohort study

BackgroundCarbon monoxide (CO) is formed as a result of the incomplete burning of hydrocarbon-containing fuels such as natural gas, coal, liquid petroleum gas, and wood. CO is a colorless, odorless, and poisonous gas that produces various acute and chronic effects in CO-exposed people. In this study, we aimed to measure CO levels in auto care repairmen with chronic CO-related illnesses using a serial, non-invasive method.A prospective cohort study.MethodsA total of 99 people from six different auto-repair services were included in the study. Carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) levels were measured at four different times with 2-hour intervals starting at 08:00 AM. Data concerning employees’ ages, working hours, smoking statuses, and types of home heating fuel were collected. A control group of 100 cases was created based on this data. The measurements were done on the control group in the morning with a Masimo Rad-57 CO-oximeter.ResultsThe highest mean (± SD) COHb value was 7.04% ± 3.32% after the third measurement. The mean value for the control group was 1.61% ± 1.43%. A statistically significant difference between the groups was found for each value.DiscussionWe determined that the risk of being affected by CO is high in buildings in which the auto services were located. The effects of chronic or prolonged exposure to low amounts of CO were found to be ambiguous. However, in some studies, it was found that low-grade CO exposure could lead to coronary artery disease and some neurological complications. Therefore, it is necessary to be careful about the health of employees who have been exposed to CO.ConclusionsWe concluded that there is a need for more detailed studies concerning chronic CO poisoning. Also, in workplaces in which there is high exposure to CO, proper workplace safety measures should be taken to reduce this gas’s harmful effects to employees.

Evaluation of automobile service performance using laboratory testing

ABSTRACTA methodology is presented to evaluate martensitic advanced high-strength steels in auto service. There was essentially no influence of hydrogen for (i) linearly increasing stress tests of specimens with hydrogen contents much greater than for automobile service, and (ii) for tensile tests with simultaneous hydrogen charging and with a substantial hydrogen content. These results allow evaluation of the hydrogen influence for the tested steels for auto service. In contrast, electrochemically hydrogen charged martensitic advanced high-strength steels showed an influence of hydrogen on mechanical properties, manifest as (i) a decrease in yield strength, by hydrogen enhanced macroscopic ductility, and (ii) a change of the micro-fracture mode, by hydrogen-assisted micro-fracture.

Technical and Operational Innovations approaches to firm performance of SMEs auto services sector

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to provide a framework to help SMEs auto service providers appreciate the critical contribution of innovations (technical and operational) to their performance. Specifically, the study examines the direct relationship between technical innovation and firm performance and the mediating role of operational innovation in the relationship. Participants of the study were drawn from the SMEs auto service provider in Kumasi, Ghana. Multiple regression analysis was performed to estimate the direct relationship and the mediating effects. In all, 180 questionnaires were used for the analysis after performing data screening. The results demonstrate that there is a statistically significant relationship between technical innovation and firm performance. Operational innovation was also found to mediate the relationship between technical innovation and firm performance. The study assumed that information regarding the operations of the participants is complete and that participants were selected based on willingness to participate. It is recommended for future researchers to explore other avenues of the subject matter to develop a standardised pattern of operations in the SMEs auto service sector.

Further study of the hydrogen embrittlement of martensitic advanced high-strength steel in simulated auto service conditions

This work examines the influence of hydrogen on the mechanical and fracture properties of martensitic advanced high-strength steels under conditions relevant to automotive service: (i) in 3.5 wt% NaCl at different cathodic potentials, (ii) in acidified 3.5 wt% NaCl and (iii) at substantial stress rates. The hydrogen embrittlement susceptibility of the steels increases at (i) increasingly negative potentials and at lower pH in 3.5 wt% NaCl, and (ii) at high charging potentials in 0.1 M NaOH at substantial stress rates. The hydrogen influence is manifested by a reduction in ductility, and the presence of brittle features on the fracture surface.

RECONSTRUCTION OF INFRASTRUCTURE LLC "AVTOMIR"

The need for the reconstruction of existing auto service enterprises is caused by changes in the structure of the rolling stock, the design of cars and the conditions of their operation, increasing the requirements for the quality of rolling stock, the design of cars and their operating conditions, increasing the quality requirements for maintenance and repair, saving fuel and energy resources and quality assurance of the environment. In our case, the need to reconstruct the autoservice company LLC "Avtomir" is associated with the need to switch to maintenance and storage of new types of rolling stock, as well as changes in the dynamics of demand for cars. In LLC Avtomir there is no possibility of rendering services related to damage to the body of the car, which reduces the ability of the organization to receive additional income, as this type of damage owners of vehicles have to eliminate at other service stations. This fact puts the company in front of the need to create a paint and body shop in the future. The purpose of this work was the development of measures to reconstruct the infrasructure of LLC "Avtomir". The main results of the technological calculation of the enterprise are as follows: - the annual workload of the technical service station is 43529 man-hour; - annual scope of works of washing, maintenance, lubrication, adjusting for setting the angles of the front wheels, adjusting brakes, maintenance and repair of the power system, electrical, tire fitting 4913; 15235.2; 2176.5; 2611.7; 3917.6; 4353; 4353; 2285 and 914 man-hour respectively; - the annual volume of works at the tire fitting site, on the maintenance and repair site of the power supply system, electrical, maintenance units is 2133; 762; 4788.2 man-hour respectively; - necessary number of production workers for maintenance and technical maintenance 29 (technological) and 35 (staff), as well as the number of auxiliary 4 and engineering - technical 5 workers; - the necessary number of posts for washing, maintenance, lubricants, technical maintenance, adjusting for setting the angles of the front wheels, adjusting for the brakes, maintenance and repair of the power system, electrical 4; 1; 1; 1; 1; 1 and 1 respectively. Analysis of production and economic activities of the enterprise allowed us to identify the objectives of the enterprise, the dynamics of its development, the state of the production and technical base. This makes it possible to identify the main shortcomings in the functioning of the organization and to implement the formulation of new tasks that need to be solved in the future. Namely, LLC "Avtomir" needs to increase production capacity, namely the addition of a diagnostic post and one more car acceptance post. In addition, there is a need to implement the washing zone, and on the vacated area to arrange a painting and drying chamber and a preparation site for painting works.

Evaluation of caregiver-friendly workplace policy (CFWPs) interventions on the health of full-time caregiver employees (CEs): implementation and cost-benefit analysis

BackgroundCurrent Canadian evidence illustrating the health benefits and cost-effectiveness of caregiver-friendly workplace policies is needed if Canadian employers are to adopt and integrate caregiver-friendly workplace policies into their employment practices. The goal of this three-year, three study research project is to provide such evidence for the auto manufacturing and educational services sectors. The research questions being addressed are: What are the impacts for employers (economic) and workers (health) of caregiver-friendly workplace policy intervention(s) for full-time caregiver-employees? What are the impacts for employers, workers and society of the caregiver-friendly workplace policy intervention(s) in each participating workplace? What contextual factors impact the successful implementation of caregiver-friendly workplace policy intervention(s)?MethodsUsing a pre-post-test comparative case study design, Study A will determine the effectiveness of newly implemented caregiver-friendly workplace policy intervention(s) across two workplaces to determine impacts on caregiver-employee health. A quasi-experimental pre-post design will allow the caregiver-friendly workplace policy intervention(s) to be tested with respect to potential impacts on health, and specifically on caregiver employee mental, psychosocial, and physical health. Framed within a comparative case study design, Study B will utilize cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness analysis approaches to evaluate the economic impacts of the caregiver-friendly workplace policy intervention(s) for each of the two participating workplaces. Framed within a comparative case study design, Study C will undertake an implementation analysis of the caregiver-friendly workplace policy intervention(s) in each participating workplace in order to determine: the degree of support for the intervention(s) (reflected in the workplace culture); how sex and gender are implicated; co-workers’ responses to the chosen intervention(s), and; other nuances at play. It is hypothesized that the benefits of the caregiver-friendly workplace policy intervention(s) will include improvements in caregiver-employees’ mental, psychosocial and physical health, as well as evidence of cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness for the employer.DiscussionThe expected project results will provide the research evidence for extensive knowledge translation work, to be carried out in collaboration with our knowledge transition partners, to the employer/human resources and occupational health/safety target populations.Trial registrationISRCTN16187974 Registered August 25, 2016.

Calculation of Spare Parts in a Car Service Enterprise Based on Evaluating the Average Time of Details Serviced Automobiles

The purpose of the work is the development of a technique for calculating spare parts in an auto service company based on an analysis of statistical information on the failure of details of each standard accumulated on daily information on the replacement of spare parts for serviced vehicles in previous planning periods. In the theory of system reliability, the calculation of the failure distribution function usually uses information on the main characteristic of failures - the time between failures, and in the absence of such information, it is necessary to use information on the number of failures at the time of receipt for maintenance of cars in this auto service plant. In this connection, the relationship between the distribution functions of these random variables is established using the reciprocity of the distribution processes to failure and the number of failures. For each of the competing theoretical functions of the distribution of the operating time to failure, an estimate is made of the average operating time of the details of each standard in the auto service plant on the basis of actual demand. The estimates obtained make it possible to calculate the number of spare parts for the subsequent replenishment period of the SPIE.

Two-Level Multi-criteria Model for Calculating Multinomenclature Spare Parts of an Auto Service Enterprise Based on the Rougher Algorithm for Optimizing the Behavior of Their Particles

On the example of the two-criterion problem with the objective functions of the maximum, the confidence probabilities of the demand and the minimum of the total costs show the applicability of the method of Vector Optimization of Particle Swarm Optimization (VEPSO). Compared with genetic algorithms and other methods of evolutionary modeling, this method is easy to implement and has high efficiency, as well as the accelerated cost of an approximate solution of the problem from the external archive of the no dominant best solutions to the Pareto front, which is the boundary of the Pareto-optimal Compromise) solutions.

Customer perception of auto service quality using Kano-SERVQUAL integrated approach - Focusing on the auto service of ‘H’company -

Purpose This study aims to propose Kano-SERVQUAL integrated approach as an effective tool for evaluating auto service quality attributes to enhance the use of SERVQUAL. Methods The Kano-SERVQUAL survey was conducted to evaluate customer perception for 28 auto service quality attributes which were obtained from auto service expert in ‘H’ company. The correlation analysis of SI(Satisfaction Index), DI(Dissatisfaction Index) and expectation values are conducted in this study. Results The 28 auto service quality attributes are classified into attractive attributes and one-dimensional attributes. The results of this study show that the correlations between the customers’ expectation values and DI is strongly positive correlation with 1% significance level, expectation values and SI is negative correlation with 10% significance level. Conclusion The results show that the purposed Kano-SERVQUAL integrated approach provides a deeper understanding of service quality attributes in that it distinguishes the customers’ expectation values between highly expected attributes(e.g. must-be attribute) and less expected attributes(e.g. attractive attribute). Key words: Auto Service, Service Quality, Kano Model, SERVQUAL, Kano-SERVQUAL

Hydrogen Concentration in Dual‐Phase (DP) and Quenched and Partitioned (Q&P) Advanced High‐Strength Steels (AHSS) under Simulated Service Conditions Compared with Cathodic Charging Conditions

The hydrogen permeation through dual‐phase (DP) and quenched and partitioned (Q&P) advanced high‐strength steels (AHSS) is investigated under simulated auto service conditions. The hydrogen concentration in the steels under simulated auto service corrosion in 3 wt% NaCl solution (either at the free corrosion potential or if polarized to the potential of a galvanized steel surface) is lower than that at the least negative cathodic charging potential of −1.100 VHg/HgO in 0.1 M NaOH. Crevice corrosion introduces three times more hydrogen than the corrosion at the free corrosion potential.

ПОВЫШЕНИЕ КОНКУРЕНТОСПОСОБНОСТИ ПРЕДПРИЯТИЙ АВТОСЕРВИСА ЗА СЧЕТ ПРИМЕНЕНИЯ АУТСОРСИНГА

The article describes the reasons for the growth of the number of auto service companies, and identifies the major market trends that have a significant impact on the development of the auto services in Russia. The method of outsourcing the management efficiency of auto service companies.