Patent attributes
A method is provided for scheduling an appointment by a service provider and for load leveling by the service provider. In the context of a vehicle collision repair service provider, the instant invention permits the service provider to balance the intake and outflow of new repair jobs to improve the work flowing through the service provider's facility. Through the instant invention, job drop-off slots and job delivery slots are allocated throughout a production period based upon production goals and capacities for the service provider. The program determines a first available drop-off slot for a specific job and presents the slot as a possible schedule option for scheduling the appointment. Load leveling between multiple facilities of a service provider is accomplished by allowing one facility to access the schedule database of an other facility and schedule appointments.
