Remember back in elementary school math class, when you first learned about the “Order of Operations” … a set of rules that told you whether you were supposed to add, subtract, multiply or divide first? It was kind of comforting – you knew you could always rely on this hard-and-fast set of rules to take the guesswork (or at least some of it) out of solving equations.  

Here at Mitek, we have our very own “order of operations” that our technicians adhere to with each and every repair. After decades in business and thousands of collision repairs, we know that following these steps is the most reliable way to ensure that nothing gets overlooked or falls through the cracks. Most importantly, we can know without a doubt that our repairs are being completed to the highest possible standards of safety and quality.

Step 1: Preliminary Inspection & Estimate

This is where our estimator has a first look at the damage done to your car in order to identify point(s) of impact, assess the damage, and determine what can likely be repaired versus what will have to be replaced. They will use all this information to put together a thorough preliminary estimate.

Step 2: Schedule Repairs and Coordinate with Insurance Company

 Your vehicle will be scheduled for repairs at the earliest possible date. In the meantime, we will provide your insurance company with the preliminary estimate (plus other information/photos if requested) to facilitate approval for your claim.

Step 3: Vehicle Intake

When you bring your car in to the shop, you will be asked to sign off on the work to be done. Your approval is our green light to proceed with the repairs.

Step 4: Pre-Repair Process

Your vehicle will be “mapped” (a computerized summary of all the initial damage that’s been identified) and then cleaned to remove road contaminants. Our techs will perform a pre-repair scan to reveal what safety systems are in place and as well as any DTCs (Diagnostic Trouble Codes) that will have to be addressed.

Step 5: Disassembly

The damaged area(s) of your vehicle will be disassembled and the parts and components will be

carefully inspected. If required, a 3-D measuring system will be employed to identify any structural damage to your frame and/or related components.

Step 6: Parts Sourcing

If needed, your preliminary estimate and collision repair plan will be updated to include any hidden or unforeseen damage that may have come to light during the disassembly and 3-D measuring process. Your insurance company will also be notified of any parts and/or repairs that were not included when your claim was first initiated. Once they’ve been approved, we will go ahead and order all the parts necessary to complete your repairs.  

Step 7: Frame & Body Repairs

Our technicians get to work. First, they’ll research OEM procedures to confirm best practices for the specific repairs your car needs. If the frame has been damaged, this may require the use of a frame bench and further 3-D measuring and modeling. Once the frame is restored to manufacturer specifications, our body repair specialists will work their magic on panel repairs and replacements.

Step 8: Exterior Refinishing

The newly-repaired surfaces of your vehicle will be sanded. If primer needs to be applied, it will be allowed to cure, sanded again, and carefully checked for imperfections. After further prepping and masking off, we’ll use a highly advanced colour matching system to ensure the best possible result. Finally, paint will be applied using the right tools and techniques.

Step 9: Assembly 

Painted parts will be double-checked for proper colour and finish, and then we’ll begin the painstaking process of putting everything back together exactly as it should be.

Step 10: Recalibration

Everything looks great on the outside, but we still need to test all the systems to confirm they are working. This involves aiming and calibrating the radar, sensor and camera systems (and adjusting/retesting as needed) until they perform exactly as they did prior to the collision.

Step 11: Post Repair Scan & Final Clean

Your vehicle will be scanned again to ensure that any DTCs that may have been triggered by the collision repair process are cleared. Your car will be taken for a road-test drive to make sure it’s operating safely and predictably. Finally, we will wash, wipe, and vacuum everything so your car will look as good as it rides when you come to pick it up.

Step 12: Final Quality Assurance Inspection

We will perform our own final inspection to ensure your car is good to go. When you come to pick it up, we can give you a detailed guided tour of the repaired areas of your car, during which we’ll explain exactly what was done, answer your questions, and ensure you are 100% satisfied with our work. Or you can just take your car and get back on the road!

Proven Processes = Consistently Excellent Results

We hope you’ve found it interesting (and maybe even a little surprising) to read about the effort, time, and attention our technicians invest into each and every collision repair. But at Mitek, we wouldn’t have it any other way.

We understand that cars are expensive and complicated machines, and the best way to keep them running safely and smoothly is with proven, predictable processes… and a fanatical attention to detail.