A New Workshop Tool That Stops Mechanics Going Nuts

Car and bike restorers can now add the computer to their toolkits with the launch of the unique Restoration Manager software in the UK at the NEC's Classic Motor Show on November 4th 2005.

CRANLEIGH, U.K. (PRWEB) September 30, 2005 -- All vehicle restorations start with huge amounts of enthusiasm, commitment and, more often than not, blind optimism as to how quickly the vehicle will be back on the road. The estimated three month restoration stretches into a three year reality, and remembering how to put the bits left on the bench back together is in the dim and distant past. The frustrated restorer struggles with where parts are and how they fit back on the vehicle and may have parts left over.

Digital photography allows the restorer to take an almost unlimited number of photographs showing how the car was constructed. For unusual vehicles there may not be a workshop manual, so the restorer must make his or her own as they dismantle the vehicle. Having several hundred or thousand photographs is all well and good, but how do you easily find the photograph and notes that go with a particular part when you need to refer to it?

By using Restoration Manager to catalogue parts as they are removed from the vehicle, entering notes, planning what tasks are necessary to restore the part, or just deciding to replace it, and associating photographs with the part, restorers have a comprehensive repository of information about their vehicle at their fingertips when putting it back together. As long as the parts are labelled as directed (a Dymo® Labelwriter can be attached to automatically print labels as the parts are added) and stored in an orderly fashion, they can be located with ease long after removal from the vehicle. Making the most of this software requires more effort when dismantling the vehicle as the restorer needs to photograph, enter information, label and store the parts; but this pays dividends later in the project. As any seasoned restorer will tell you preparation is vital for a fantastic finish and using Restoration Manager is simply part of preparation process.

Restoration Manager helps the restorer when the strip down is completed as follows:
-Search facility allows parts to be located and identified and photographs to be found using phrases in notes and descriptions.
-Job lists show what jobs have been completed and what needs to be done either or an individual part, a group of parts or the project as a whole.
-Reports can be created showing lists of tasks to be carried out and components required – works as a shipping list when sending parts away and a shopping list.
-Quick visual indication of what parts are complete and which still need work

At the end of the project the restorer not only has a fantastic vehicle on the road, but also a comprehensive record of the work carried out.

Restoration Manager is designed to be used on a cheap low specification PC from the local classifieds or eBay, the sort of computer that can be left in a garage or workshop (and backed up frequently!). The software was developed in conjunction with a restoration workshop and tested on a low specification computer in the workshop. It is easy to use and doesn't require in depth knowledge of computing – Restoration Manager is a tool for the restorer not the computer genius.

Restoration Manager will be available from the Classic Motor Show at the NEC running from the 4th to the 6th November 2005 on the Mark Evans stand and by worldwide mail order (online at www.restoration-manager.com and by telephone on +44 (0)870 4783784) and from selected retailers from 7th November 2005. A trial version will be available for download only at www.restoration-manager.com.

Notes for editors:
Full versions of the software will be available for review from 1 November 2005, please contact Nigel or Evelyn West on +44 (0)1483 278729

Some images are available at www.restoration-manager.com/media. More images/sample products for photography on request.

For more information contact:
Nigel West +44 (0)1483 278729
Operations Support (Software) Limited, PO Box 109, Cranleigh, Surrey GU6 7YU
Website: www.restoration-manager.com

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