Dealer-Group Collision Operation Brings ADAS Calibrations In-House to Improve Cycle Time, Capacity, and Customer Experience
For years, Zimbrick Body Shop leveraged the advantages of being part of one of Wisconsin’s largest automotive dealership groups. With access to service departments representing 16 automotive brands, the Madison-based collision operation relied on internal dealership resources to perform Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) calibrations.
As vehicle technology evolved and calibration demand increased, that model became increasingly difficult to sustain.
We started to see longer turnaround times to get the calibrations performed,” said Jesse Ewoldt, Collision Director at Zimbrick Body Shop.
Today, after implementing Autel ADAS calibration systems and establishing an in-house calibration center, Zimbrick has transformed a process that once delayed vehicle deliveries by up to a week into a same-day operation.
Growing Calibration Volume Creates Repair Bottlenecks
Zimbrick operates three collision repair facilities in Madison, Wisconsin, serving customers across a dealership network that includes Audi, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and numerous other brands.
As ADAS-equipped vehicles became the norm, calibration requirements increased dramatically.
According to Ewoldt, approximately 40% of vehicles entering Zimbrick’s body shops now require at least one calibration—well above industry averages. The growing demand exposed a critical limitation in the existing workflow. While dealership service departments remained valuable partners, they also had their own repair schedules and customer obligations.
The result was a growing backlog.
Vehicles that were fully repaired, painted, and reassembled often sat waiting days for calibration appointments before they could be returned to customers.
Because calibrations occur at the end of the repair process, these delays directly impacted cycle time, customer satisfaction, and shop throughput. Additionally, Zimbrick needed a calibration solution for non-franchise vehicles that dealership service departments were unable to support.
Evaluating In-House ADAS Calibration
Rather than continuing to depend on outside scheduling, Ewoldt began researching in-house calibration solutions. He consulted industry publications, connected with collision repair operators already performing calibrations internally, and reached out to Autel for additional information.
Through that process, Zimbrick connected with National Calibration & Diagnostic Solutions (NCDS), an Autel distributor specializing in ADAS implementation and training. Before making an investment decision, Ewoldt traveled to North Carolina to see the equipment operating in a production environment and speak directly with technicians using the systems.
The visit confirmed what his research had suggested.
An in-house ADAS operation would provide greater control over repair quality, scheduling, and future scalability.
Building a Centralized Calibration Center with Autel
Rather than launching a small pilot program, Zimbrick committed to a comprehensive strategy from day one. The company established a centralized ADAS calibration center designed to support all three collision repair facilities.
At the center of the operation is the Autel IA900 ADAS Calibration and Wheel Alignment System, which serves as the primary calibration platform. To further increase flexibility and capacity, Zimbrick later added an Autel IA700 Mobile ADAS calibration system.
The IA700 allows technicians to perform alignment verification and selected calibrations at satellite locations while providing additional capacity during high-volume periods.
This combination created a scalable workflow that could adapt to fluctuating repair demand across all three locations.
Creating Shop-Wide ADAS Awareness
Successful implementation required more than equipment installation.
NCDS provided extensive hands-on training for technicians and staff, covering scanning, calibration procedures, workflow integration, and OEM requirements. Ongoing support continues through follow-up visits, technical assistance, and remote consultation.
The training also improved awareness throughout the organization.
Estimators became more effective at identifying calibration requirements earlier in the repair process, enabling better repair planning and more accurate customer communication. By integrating calibration considerations into every stage of the repair workflow, Zimbrick reduced surprises and improved consistency across locations.
From One Week to Same-Day Turnaround
The impact was immediate. Calibrations that previously required waiting several days—or as much as a week—for service department availability can now be completed the same day or next day.
The streamlined process allows technicians to retrieve vehicles, perform required calibrations, and return them to the originating location without disrupting repair schedules.
Beyond cycle time improvements, bringing calibrations in-house has delivered several additional benefits:
- Reduced dependence on outside scheduling
- Faster vehicle delivery to customers
- Increased control over repair quality and documentation
- Improved identification of calibration requirements during estimating
- Expanded calibration coverage across franchise and non-franchise vehicles
- Greater operational scalability as ADAS-equipped vehicle volume continues to grow
The addition of the portable IA700 system has further improved flexibility by allowing calibration resources to move where demand is highest.
Scalable Technology for the Future of Collision Repair
For Zimbrick, the decision was about more than solving today’s cycle time challenges.
As ADAS technoogy becomes increasingly common across vehicle platforms, the collision repair industry must be prepared for continued growth in calibration volume and complexity.
Autel’s combination of OEM-focused workflows, extensive vehicle coverage, advanced optical positioning technology, and ongoing support provided a foundation that could scale with Zimbrick’s future needs.
Autel puts us in a good spot to get ready to scale up into the future,” said Ewoldt. “We constantly look at what else they offer and what else we might add to take things to that next level.”
